Obama pledges better cybersecurity, top advisor

Two days into his administration, U.S. President Barack Obama issued a statement outlining his homeland security policy, including the creation of a top advisor in the White House to set cybersecurity policy.

In the homeland security document, published on Thursday, the administration pledged to create a top cybersecurity position, harden the nation’s infrastructure, fund research and development of secure computing technologies, and work with the private sector to set standards from cybersecurity. The document also promised that the administration will work with industry to develop better defenses against cyber espionage, shut down the mechanisms through which online criminals profit from their crimes, and mandate better privacy and breach disclosures. [SecurityFocus]