Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., has recommended that the federal government adopt the “hack back†approach when responding to cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, Washington Post reported Tuesday.
The proposal could attract interest from private companies but also present risks as nation-states and foreign hackers continue to virtually threaten U.S. businesses.
Whitehouse also called on the federal government to authorize a cybersecurity official to inform the public about various weak points in cybersecurity systems and measures.
He noted that there is a need for President Donald Trump to appoint a cybersecurity “storyteller-in-chief†to disclose instances of threats and attempted attacks such as hacking and data theft.
Lastly, the senator proposed reviewing the U.S. government’s cybersecurity guidelines for power plants and other critical infrastructure operators to ensure they are encouraging better security.
Whitehouse aims to share his proposals before a congressional hearing on cybersecurity that will include testimonies from national security officials on critical infrastructure attacks.
