US to unveil response to growing cyber threat

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The White House is expected to announce a plan to respond to the recent barrage of cyber attacks on the United States according to an official familiar with the scheduled announcement.

The US attorney general will tell the rest of us how the administration will try to push other nations to enforce intellectual property rights.

And help United States companies protect their sensitive data.

As you may now just yesterday -- US based security firm claimed it -- some of the most extensive cyber attacks in recent history.

Right back to a Chinese military unit Shanghai.

Chinese officials deny the allegations that they had anything to do with any of it.

Former assistant secretary of state PJ Crowley joins me now and he's currently professor practice at George Washington University -- that the CEO.

Polaris first of all we should be clear what -- these guys want.

Well what China has done is to spy on companies and and they are -- to intellectual property that.

They turn into.

You know -- economic advantage.

And and that distinguishes perhaps what China is doing from what save the spy agencies for any any.

Any government including ours do you -- -- on governments.

What the United States does not -- -- companies that China does.

So what can the federal government do to protect it.

Our information from hackers in China.

Well obviously and the president talked about this in his state of the union one is to is to.

Improve the security of our information networks because -- much of this intellectual property you know years ago used to be locked up in a safe.

In a company now it's available on these networks and vulnerable to these kinds of attacks.

Whether it's in this case from a state in some cases from a criminal element in some cases you know from hackers.

So we we do have to improve our -- the security of our cyber networks it's something that you know we used all of us use and we take out.

That we take for granted but all of a lot about personal information a lot of intellectual property.

Is residence on these networks but it a second level this if this is something that we've understood for some time.

China has up until now have this.

Position of plausible -- -- ability but obviously as you see in this latest report.

That's becoming much more difficult for China to do.

And that's I think it's going to become a much greater issue in terms of US China relations going forward.

You know I don't mean to sound pessimistic but can the government really move fast enough to deal with hackers and in changing technology.

It's a great question and and the reality this is something where where corporations themselves have to take the initiative.

Missed something in 1995%.

Of of of networks are privately owned not publicly out.

The government has a role to play in helping -- this is -- is this is much this very significantly about.

Trying to protect and prevent the hemorrhage of billions and billions and billions of dollars.

Of value that's leaving our computer networks and going to other criminal elements or in this case other state.

Yeah you know -- -- sure that though there a growing group of people out there who wonder well how much do you see to the government in your own private companies in order for them to help protect you.

That's also an excellent question I don't think we can answer today but before I let you go.

We hear about this being the new battlefield so -- hacking ever going to be grounds for war.

Well -- -- did this library is a potential battle space if you will I would at least for the moment put this in the context of espionage.

Bobby did -- our -- -- we have to beast.

For concerned.

That someone remotely could take control of a key system within our our country like the electric grid.

And shut it off -- will and and that could be interpreted as.

An act of war.

But I think in this case it's just trying to make it much more difficult.

Whether it's a state.

Whether it's a credible criminal enterprise or just an and our -- to sell off on the network trying to create mayhem make -- much more difficult for them to operate.

In this domain.

PJ Crowley joining us today thank you very much.

Appreciate your pleasure Harris.

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US to unveil response to growing cyber threat

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