The White House's cyberspace security plan, scheduled to be released Wednesday, envisions a broad new role for the federal government in maintaining Internet security.
While couching many concepts as mere suggestions, a draft of the plan seen by CNET News.com says the government should improve the security of key Internet protocols and spend tens of millions of dollars on centers to recognize and respond to "cyber attacks."
The draft report, however, is still in flux. As of late Monday, one controversial section that appears to have been deleted would have required companies to contribute money to a fund to secure computer networks.
Prepared by Richard Clarke, President Bush's special advisor for cyberspace security, the draft says changes "will be needed" in key Internet protocols and endorses "trustworthy computing" technologies such as Microsoft's proposed system. Also under consideration are a "cyber emergency response plan" that would be activated during Internet crises and a National Cyberspace Academy to "advance research in cybersecurity education."
It says the executive branch should consult with privacy groups and attempt to preserve civil liberties, but concludes that in some cases, privacy could be limited. "Allowing completely anonymous communications on a wide-scale basis, with no possibility of determining the source, could shelter criminal, or even terrorist communications," the draft says.
News source: ZDNet
View: The full story
While couching many concepts as mere suggestions, a draft of the plan seen by CNET News.com says the government should improve the security of key Internet protocols and spend tens of millions of dollars on centers to recognize and respond to "cyber attacks."
The draft report, however, is still in flux. As of late Monday, one controversial section that appears to have been deleted would have required companies to contribute money to a fund to secure computer networks.
Prepared by Richard Clarke, President Bush's special advisor for cyberspace security, the draft says changes "will be needed" in key Internet protocols and endorses "trustworthy computing" technologies such as Microsoft's proposed system. Also under consideration are a "cyber emergency response plan" that would be activated during Internet crises and a National Cyberspace Academy to "advance research in cybersecurity education."
It says the executive branch should consult with privacy groups and attempt to preserve civil liberties, but concludes that in some cases, privacy could be limited. "Allowing completely anonymous communications on a wide-scale basis, with no possibility of determining the source, could shelter criminal, or even terrorist communications," the draft says.
News source: ZDNet View: The full story
Microsoft's plan, known as Licensing 6, has faced stiff resistance because it could as much as double volume-licensing fees, according to research firm Gartner. A number of the company's competitors have been tapping into this dissatisfaction as well as frustrations about the cost of Microsoft software, to lure customers to Linux-based systems and rival business software.
In August, Hewlett-Packard said it would boot a Microsoft software package from its Pavilion line of consumer PCs in favor of software from Corel, a less-expensive alternative. Several foreign governments, wary of depending too heavily on Microsoft, have also begun to experiment with Linux-based software.
Microsoft on Monday downplayed the significance of Novell's advertising campaign.
"I haven't seen the full-page ads they are taking out, so I can't really comment. But we aren't focused on PR efforts from our competitors. We want to make sure we stay focused on giving customers the tools and programs they need to help their businesses succeed," said Microsoft spokesman Dan Leach.
Separately on Monday, in a quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Novell took aim at Microsoft on the antitrust front. This comes as a federal judge prepares to make a decision about Microsoft's proposed settlement with the Justice Department and a related case in which several states are seeking harsher sanctions.
In the filing, Novell accused Microsoft of "exploiting its desktop operating monopoly in a way that is designed to extend its market power into the market for server operating systems, and to claim control of network and Web services such as authentication, using many of the same anti-competitive practices found by the United States District Court to be in violation of the nation's antitrust laws."
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