House panel plans cybersecurity training for members and staff

Members of a House panel that oversees cybersecurity plan to host two events this month to promote ways to better protect networks and computers from viruses and hackers.

In honor of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the House Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, Science and Technology will provide what it calls "cyber flu shots," specific practices that House members and congressional staff can take to inoculate their PCs, networks and information from being stolen or infected with viruses, said Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the subcommittee, who spoke on Friday at a cybersecurity event hosted by the technology lobby group TechAmerica.

The first event, scheduled for Oct. 27, will present ways to protect computers and handheld devices from being infected with malicious software while the user is online. The second event, to be held on Oct. 30, will offer best practices to protect personal information when using social networking Web sites such as Twitter and Facebook, "which members love to use," Clarke said.

"It's important we begin our dialogue in the offices where we work," she said. "That conversation is an important one. We need to come up to speed. I know, in watching my colleagues, many have not embraced new technology in a way that is safe for themselves or our community here in Washington."

Also, the subcommittee will hold a closed briefing with industry on Friday to discuss policies to address cybersecurity threats. Clarke introduced a resolution to support the goals and ideals of National Preparedness Month, which passed the House on Oct. 1. Numerous cybersecurity bills are being considered in the House and Senate to determine how the federal government should protect computer networks and systems.

"There needs to be real monitoring of bills introduced," Clarke said. "Out of fear, the reaction is to clamp down, regulate, plug the holes, but there's always someone who's one step, two steps, 10 steps ahead of what we're experiencing at a particular time. [We need to avoid] regulations that may inhibit the [development of] tools to protect ourselves."

John McCumber, strategic programs manager for security software vendor Symantec, who also spoke at the TechAmerica event, said, "Government hasn't defined the policy problem. We need to have appropriate legislation in place so people understand procedural controls. Cybersecurity is not a destination, it's a process. We look to government to help provide that process and the intelligence to feed it."

Clarke emphasized the need for the administration to appoint a cyber coordinator, which President Obama promised during his campaign and again during a March speech on his administration's cybersecurity plans.

"We need someone who has the ear of the president, [who] can be held accountable as we move" on setting policies and passing legislation, Clarke said. "We're nine months in [to the Obama administration], and we have other heavy issues that we're dealing with. But this is a matter of immediacy."