The Cyber Warning Information Network - the U.S. government's private computer network aimed at helping various agencies and industries defend themselves against cyberattacks - is creeping toward the finish line, but some reports indicate industry corners doubt if there's enough interest among the upper echelons of the Bush Administration to push it further.
"This is still evolving," Foxnews.com quoted an unnamed White House source as saying March 27. "This is the kind of thing we're going to be expanding over the next year or so."
Indeed, President Bush's fiscal 2003 budget asked for $30 million for the project, which has been in the works and under construction for two years.
The network is designed to be an information center for tech and government to share information and keep communications alive in case of a massive cyberattack, Fox said. The news network also said many private groups and businesses have been slow to provide vulnerability information - fearing it could be made public by way of the Freedom of Information Act. And, Fox added, they want antitrust exemptions if they provide security information to Washington.
