I have to admit, I find this to be pretty irritating. The government computers in the United States have had horrible levels of computer security for quite some time now, and while there have been some increases, they currently grade a C-. Yeah, that is definitely better than an F which occurred in some sectors in the past, but a C- for government systems (similiar ones that hold “Top Secret” level data as well as citizens’ identities) is still absurd. And they wonder why teenagers are able to break into government systems…

The federal government earned an overall grade of “C-minus” last year for securing its computer systems and networks from hackers, viruses and insider threats, a slight improvement from its performance in 2005.

According to data to be released by a House committee today, the Department of Defense led a group of eight agencies that received failing marks for computer security. Also receiving that dubious distinction were the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Interior, State and Treasury, as well as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Department of Homeland Security earned a D, although its overall performance improved since 2005. The Department of Veterans Affairs did not provide enough data to earn a grade. In 2005, it received an F.[more]

Tags: Computer Protection