Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

FBI: The Hackers Are Winning

US companies failing to fend off intruders

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 29, 2012 9:22 AM CDT

(Newser) – If US businesses are in a war with computer hackers, the FBI's top cyber cop has bad news: "We're not winning." In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Shawn Henry, who is leaving the bureau for a private cybersecurity gig, says the nation's current strategy for fending off digital criminals isn't sustainable. "You never get ahead, never become secure, never have a reasonable expectation of privacy or security," he said.

Hackers are simply too smart for existing security measures, Henry said. "You can only build a fence so high, and what we've found is that the offense outpaces the defense, and the offense is better than the defense." He's urging companies to keep their most sensitive data off their networks entirely, and to hunt inside their network for intrusions. He says most companies don't have a proactive strategy, "and that is a frustrating thing for me."

FBI executive assistant director Shawn Henry speaks in this file photo.
FBI executive assistant director Shawn Henry speaks in this file photo.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
10%
9%
3%
24%
49%
6%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
Endorphins
Mar 31, 2012 2:19 PM CDT
Go hackers go!  Keep fighting the constipated pigs in power, keep hacking so that one day the stick may fall out their arse and they can take a crap again, then we will have freedom again!
MisterPlinkett
Mar 29, 2012 10:47 PM CDT
This is just more bullshit in the war on the internet.  propaganda to make stupid people give up another major aspect of their life for the illusion of security. ...
shaboom
Mar 29, 2012 6:23 PM CDT
Good. You have proven yourselves unworthy of absolute authority. Praise the hackers.
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne