“Perfect Citizen” is a federal government program that empowers the National Security Agency (NSA) to monitor the computer networks of public and private entities. The purpose of Perfect Citizen is to prevent cyber attacks against resources considered vital to national security like public utilities and power plants. Public Citizen is reassuring internet security to some, and a disconcerting intrusion to others, who see its massive automated NSA surveillance of American companies and citizens as Big Brother.
Source for this article: Is Perfect Citizen national security, or Big Brother in disguise? by Personal Money Store
Perfect Citizen – Internet security on steroids
The story about Perfect Citizen broke within the Wall Street Journal. The Journal reports that the government’s chief eavesdroppers, the NSA will deploy a set of sensors in the computer networks of entities deemed critical that is triggered by spikes that could possibly be warnings of a cyber attack. Defense contractor Raytheon Corp. just lately won a classified contract for phase one of Perfect Citizen, valued at up to $ 100 million. Some industry and government officials who learn about Perfect Citizen see it as an intrusion by the NSA into domestic affairs. Others say it the NSA surveillance is long overdue Internet security for preventing an emerging threat, and that the NSA is the only agency with the gear and experience to deal with the job.
NSA will share data with public companies
The Journal article explains that Perfect Citizen could be applied to older computer networks which were designed before Internet security was an issue. Critical infrastructure like subway systems and air traffic control are run by these older networks. These older networks have become sitting ducks for cyber attack since becoming more efficient by going online. The NSA said Perfect Citizen will allow it to collect and share intelligence on cyber attacks that all companies can use for network security.
Can Big Brother be trusted to behave?
Some people are uneasy about Perfect Citizen, possibly because of its Orwellian title. PC World reports that they’re concerned that Perfect Citizen is just getting began and that all domestic network activity will eventually be monitored by the NSA. Information about the power usage and travel plans of private citizens may also be collected by the NSA with access to the computer networks of entities critical to national security. For now, nobody really knows if Perfect Citizen can enforce national security without trampling on the rights of private citizens.
More information accessible at these websites:
wsj.com
www.nsa.gov
pcworld.com
No comments:
Post a Comment