NASA/University of Idaho to Fight Attacks on Computers

John Bluck

NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA

650/604-5026 or 650/604-9000

jbluck@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Jeff Olson

University of Idaho, Moscow, ID

208/885-8934

jolson@uidaho.edu

NASA and the University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, have joined forces to
research ways to oppose attacks on computer systems. NASA Administrator
Daniel S. Goldin announced the collaboration during a visit to the
university’s winter commencement Dec 16.

The partnership allows NASA to provide a real world source of data and
systems to be used in the research effort at UI. The findings will help
NASA enhance its ability to respond to challenges from cyberspace.

“This project is intended to position NASA to aggressively respond to cyber
attacks on the NASA information technology infrastructure and programs
through rapid identification of the start of an attack and projection of
the direction and targets,” said Scott Santiago of NASA’s Ames Research
Center, located in California’s Silicon Valley. “Those first steps could
be followed by an immediate response to neutralize the threat and
identification of counter measures to reduce future vulnerabilities,” he
said. A NASA Ames representative signed the Dec. 15, 2000, memorandum of
agreement with UI to form the partnership.

UI researchers in the Center for Secure and Dependable Software are
nationally recognized specialists in Internet security. The National
Security Agency selected the UI in May 1999 as one of the original seven
universities nationwide designated as Centers of Excellence In Information
Assurance Education.

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and the state’s congressional delegation
facilitated the memorandum of understanding that outlines NASA-UI
cooperation on the research.