Congress and the Administration discusses possible cyber attacks

The U.S. government should take "extraordinary measures" in response to a computer attack that could affect critical computer networks, both public and private, said a senior official of the Department of Homeland Security.

The director of the National Cyber Security Center Phil Reitinger told Congress that working with government to determine if they need new presidential emergency powers to determine whether key industries such as power plants, electrical power and financial systems life might respond if a computer crisis.

A major Senate committee is proposing that the president has a more specific authority over how they might react these important industries.

For its part, independent Senator Joe Lieberman, who chairs the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, said that these powers should include the ability to require companies to install a security filter on their computers or block certain types traffic on the Internet.

U.S. officials are struggling to strengthen the security of the Internet, and federal computer networks are being reviewed and attacked million times a day by hackers and cyber terrorists, as well as criminals looking to steal sensitive information or destroying or at least affect vital operations of the industry.

Although there are few who doubt the seriousness of the threat, lawmakers are divided over the extent of the role government should play in these cases and what federal organizations should be responsible for addressing these risks.

In the midst of this debate are the leaders of some industries, who argue that companies can often do a better job than the federal government to protect their systems and ensure that their staff are well trained to confront the threats.

In prepared testimony before a hearing held Tuesday before the Committee on National Security, Reitinger said the president already has some emergency powers, so any adjustment should not exceed the existing law. The testimony was obtained by The Associated Press.

The law, Reitinger said, "recognizes that Americans expect their federal government provides, prevent and respond to cyber threats," adding that the clauses concerning presidential powers "recognize that the government could require the adoption of extraordinary measures to meet these responsibilities "

Cybercriminals will focus on small businesses

Cyber criminals are attacking with increasing frequency to small and medium businesses that do not have the resources to renovate its computer systems security, federal officials said.

Many of these attacks are perpetrated by organized groups that operate outside the United States and are therefore able to steal credit card numbers and personal information of the cardholder, said Michael Merritt, deputy director of the Office of Investigations U.S. Secret Service.

As larger companies have protected their computer networks with complex security systems, cyber criminals have adapted and now directing their attacks toward smaller companies are less protected, the official said in testimony before the Committee of Senate Homeland Security.

Phil Reitinger, a senior official of the Department of Homeland Security, said there are several simple steps that companies can implement to protect themselves.

"Protecting the entrance of a factory or shop is part of the nature of business for the owners, so consideration should be ciberprotección," Reitinger said in his testimony.

He added that according to a recent study, up to 87% of cybercrimes could be avoided by simply taking simple preventive measures or intermediate level.

Reitinger and Merritt said that government agencies are working to increase cooperation among themselves and with private companies.

Some lawmakers believe it essential to create agreements between the private sector, security forces, government and allies abroad.

"Security can not reach the government alone," said Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, chairman of the panel of national security.