Fixing The Internet May Mean Building A New One
As hackers expose widespread cybersecurity lapses and heighten fears about defending critical infrastructure from attack, one proposed solution has started gaining traction: Rather than attempt to tighten security on the modern Internet, it suggests creating an entirely new one.
Earlier this month, former CIA Director Michael Hayden became the latest figure in Washington to call for a separate, secure Internet to shield vital systems like the power grid from cyber-attacks. The new commander of the military's cyberwar operations, Gen. Keith Alexander, has also endorsed the idea.
The proposal is an acknowledgement that very little can be done to protect a network connected to the World Wide Web -- a system originally designed for connectivity, not security -- from sophisticated hackers. "It's an acceptance that the existing Internet is an inherently insecure platform," said Jeffrey Carr, founder of the security consulting firm Taia Global Inc. and author of the book "Inside Cyber Warfare." Computer networks tied to vital industries "can't afford that kind of exposure," he said.
