2005 Worst Year for Computer Security Breaches

With at least 130 security breaches exposing more than 55 million Americans to potential identity theft in 2005, some security experts are calling last year the worst year ever for security breaches. But with the cybersecurity budget at the Department of Homeland Security being cut, can we really expect an improvement in 2006?

An article in USA Today says an adviser for the Treasury Department's Office of Technical Assistance estimates cybercrime proceeds in 2004 were $105 billion, a number even greater than those of illegal drug sales.

According to the article, the DHS’s research budget for cybersecurity programs was cut by 7 percent for 2005, and bills related to ID theft are “stalled” in Congress. “As a result, the Bush administration has drawn the ire of the Cyber Security Industry Alliance, which represents high-tech heavyweights Symantec, McAfee and RSA Security,” the article says.

However, Andy Purdy, acting director of the DHS’s National Cyber Security Division, told USA today the department is working with the private sector and government to build a response system to detect and stop major cyberattacks, among other initiatives. “The challenges are significant, but we believe we're making progress,” Purdy told the publication.