The White House pushed cybersecurity back into the forefront this week by taking a stand with key industry groups against one of the most significant threats to our IT infrastructure: botnets.
Botnets -- networks of computers infected by viruses that allow hackers to control and monitor information without the users' knowledge -- have infected nearly five million computers around the world, according to Business Software Alliance president and CEO, Robert Holleyman.
'This undermines the Internet economy by eroding users' trust and confidence in cyberspace," he said.
To combat this growing threat, the White House announced a partnership between U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, and a group of nine trade association and nonprofits called the Industry Botnet Group, or IBG.
"We have a shared responsibility to commit resources and address the growing threats from botnets, which threaten to undermine the digital economy," said Craig Spiezle, executive director and president of Online Trust Alliance, a member of IBG.
As a first step to this new cybersecurity effort, officials unveiled IBG's Nine Principles to Reduce the Impact of Botnets in Cybersecurity.
According to IBG, these principles are intended to support voluntary efforts in the private sector that aim to allow the IT industry to respond quickly and effectively to cyber threats. They do not, however, prescribe any particular means or method to do so, which for great flexibility over a wide range of participants and business models.
"Preserving online trust and confidence needs to be a priority," said Spiezle. "The broad adoption of the Industry Botnet Group principles is an important step towards protecting the Internet."
