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Computer Security Continues to Be a Problem for the Government

Aired September 11, 2000 - 6:06 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: On Capitol Hill, meanwhile, investigators on Monday outlined just how much of a problem computer security is for the government.

National correspondent Bob Franken reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Early this year, the so-called "Love Bug" virus showed how easily vandals can wreak havoc with the world's ever-expanding computer networks. Now, a new congressional report paints a bleak picture of a U.S. government cyber system that is seriously at risk for fraud, misuse and disruption.

JOEL WILLEMSSEN, GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE: Important operations at every major federal major agency continue to be at risk as a result of weak controls.

FRANKEN: A General Accounting Office report card gives the federal government overall a D-minus.

Several agencies get a failing grade, an F: the Health and Human Services department, with all its sensitive medical information about U.S. citizens; the Department of Agriculture; and the Justice Department, which investigates criminal allegations.

The Treasury Department, which oversees the Internal Revenue Service, gets a D.

The Social Security administration gets a B. The report was prepared from data provided by the agencies themselves.

The problem, according to various Clinton administration experts, is that any computer system is susceptible.

JOHN SPOTILA, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET: Security threats often arise from malicious parties who probe for vulnerabilities and risks.

FRANKEN: In other words, just about any level of security can be thwarted by a creative computer whiz.

SCOTT CHARNEY, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS: The government doesn't actively race against hackers to find vulnerabilities. So in that respect, it would be true that others studying programs and systems would find it first.

FRANKEN: The lack of adequate protection can affect vital national security, says the GAO. At the Pentagon, for instance, it can increase the vulnerability of various military operations that support the department's war-fighting capabilities.

(on camera): Experts say that each agency has such different functions that coordination is extremely difficult. But their problem is the same government-wide, the computers are exposed targets.

Bob Franken, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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