US expands cyber security arm amid growing global threat

3 new departments will take more proactive role in cyberwarfare Washington – Arabstoday A cyber security team established by the Pentagon to tackle a new age of digital threats will be considerably expanded, the US Defence Department has announced. The new US Cyber Command division will be "constantly looking to recruit, train and retain world-class cyber personnel" expert in both offensive and defensive technologies, a department spokesman told The New York Times.
The expansion would increase the Defence Department's Cyber Command by more than 4,000 people, up from the current 900, the Times reported Sunday.
Three task forces will be set up, officials said, involving a "cyber protection force" responsible for protecting the Pentagon's own internal systems, a "national mission force," which will have similar responsibilities to protect national infrastructure such as the US power grid, and finally a "combat mission force" that will take a more proactive role in cyberwarfare, planning and executing cyber operations.
The moves follow statements made in October by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warning the United States was facing the possibility of a "cyber-Pearl Harbor" wherein foreign computer hackers could dismantle the nation's power grid, transportation system, financial network and government.
Security officials have identified China, Russia, Iran and a number of militant groups as potential cyber-aggressors.
Source: UPI