Cyber-security hampered by lack of attention.

• Author: Pappalardo, Joe
• Position: Security beat: homeland defense briefs - Brief Article

The state of cyber-security in the United States is suffering from a lack of attention from industry and academia, according to a leading national information technology expert. "Research funding from the federal government is mainly going into the biological area," said Harris Miller, president of the Information Technology Association of America. "Why? We're more scared of dying than getting a computer virus."

Since the threat is considered second-tier, gaps in computer defenses will remain open, Miller and the President's Information and Technology Advisory Committee in late July. Since many of the homeland security missions rely on information technology, such as the U.S. Visit program at border crossings and cargo tracking at ports, the chink in the armor needs to be addressed, Miller said.

One large problem is the divide between academia and industry. A lack of students entering the profession may leave the United States at a disadvantage, and those who bring cyber security programs into the field often face differences in the professional culture. "Most of the physical security people...