Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

August 30, 2008 9:25:43 CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Renegade Geek to Head Cyber Security

Posted Mar 20, 08 2:45 PM CDT in Technology 

(Newser) – Outre tech entrepreneur Rod Beckström will top the White House’s new secretive cyber security initiative, the Wall Street Journal reports, to the surprise of many Washington insiders. Beckström is a Silicon Valley transplant without security experience, but he has developed a cult following in the security and intelligence communities for his book The Starfish and the Spider, which favors decentralized management.

So far, Bush has revealed little about the effort Beckström, who'll report directly to DHS head Michael Chertoff, will lead. Journal sources say the goal is to secure government networks, and then transfer those techniques to the private sector. Beckström could prove a valuable ambassador for that second phase, because of the tech sector's mistrust of Washington.

Source Wall Street Journal

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Feds Prepare for Cyberwar

    Sep 27, 07 7:57 CDT
    Feds Prepare for Cyberwar Readying for a new cyber doomsday in which Americans wake to find the power off, cell phones dead, and no access to cash, the Bush administration is considering creating an agency to protect critical public and private computers. Experts say that any attack, which would likely originate in China, would find the US woefully easy to take down, ABC reports. More »

United States Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff talks to the media in this file photo. Beck will report directly to Chertoff.   (AP Photo/Filip Horvat)
This file photo, provided by his website, shows Rod Beckstrom, who was chosen today to head up President Bush's new cyber security initiative.   (Beckstrom.com)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 2)

Tags

Bush administration  • Department of Homeland Security  • Internet security  • Michael Chertoff  • cyberattack  • cyberterrorism


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular


Other Technology Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »