Initiation of an Inquiry Committee to Eliminate Malware

The Commons' Science and Technology Select Committee is setting up an inquiry for investigating if the government is required to play more actively in combating cyber crime, according to the news published in computing.co.uk on July 21, 2011.

The Committee will also evaluate if the government has a significant role in safeguarding its citizens from malware as it safeguards them from communicable diseases.

Main highlights of the inquiry include issues related to the ways by which malware can affect individuals, government's role in preventing malware infections, and the total revenue earned due to the industry, as per the news published in PS.CO.UK on July 21, 2011.

The Committee is also evaluating previous works on this aspect and is working towards estimating the proportion of cyber crime related with malware, place from where these malwares emanate, resources associated with combating malware, cost of the same and the role played by the industry in securing people from these malwares.

Earlier, the prime aim of the Committee was to examine the national threat posed by these malware; whereas, the Committee's present challenge is to scrutinize individual threat to each and every individual. Nonetheless, a number of IT industries have already rejected such efforts of the Committee.

Tony Lock, an Analyst with research firm, Freefrom Dynamics drew attention towards the insufficient privilege of the Committee on devising credible response to cyber crime, reports news published in computing.co.uk on July 21, 2011.

Lock added saying that it is rather impossible to articulate a credible policy and implement it successfully. So, it is rather feasible that the Committee raise awareness among people.

Thus, it is quite amazing that when the Committee itself is surrounded with so many drawbacks, it is questioning the government's role on controlling spread of malware.

However, sustaining national security was the main aim of the emergencies' inquiry, which requires an integrated effort at national level.

Additionally, the committee is also urging submission for ascertaining if the government has taken necessary measures towards dealing with the rapid dissemination of malware like an endemic and its effectiveness towards combating the prevalence of malware.

However, the Committee has urged for a written submission of no less than 3000 words on these issues by September 7, 2011.

» SPAMfighter News - 8/4/2011