The Pentagon has decided to extend a new program to help protect its main suppliers from hackers and hostile countries that launch increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks against U.S. defense contractors. The program, which could serve as a model for other government agencies, is being evaluated by the Department of Homeland Security as part of an effort to protect power plans, the electric grid, and other critical infrastructure. Efforts to better protect the networks of defense contractors come as Pentagon analysts investigate a growing number of cases involving the mishandling or removal of classified data from military and corporate computer systems. Intrusions into defense networks account for almost 30 percent of cyber-crimes investigated by the Pentagon. The Pentagon program is a key breakthrough in the Obama administration's effort to make critical networks more secure by sharing intelligence with the private sector and helping companies better protest their systems.
