Access Control
& Security Systems

President Bush's top computer security advisor, Cyber Security Czar Richard Clarke, says high-tech companies, customers and government agencies are well aware of their own security vulnerabilities but are reluctant to pay to fix them.

Clarke warns that it is just a matter of time before terrorists use those flaws to their advantage - launching an attack on critical infrastructure such as the electricity grid or air traffic control.

"They look for the seams," Clarke said during a speech at the RSA Conference in San Jose, Calif. "Our infrastructure is fragile."

President Bush is proposing a 64 percent increase in spending for computer security to $2.7 billion in 2002.

Clarke has suggested several changes to address the security concerns, including moving all government Web sites to a new private network called GOVNET. Clarke also advocates government-industry cooperation.

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