White House outlines secret cybersecurity plan

Ever since President Bush signed a secret cybersecurity directive two years ago, executive branch officials have been dropping hints about what might be in the highly classified document known as NSPD54. Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff once likened it to a new "Manhattan Project," and The Washington Post reported that the multibillion Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative represented the "single largest request for funds" in last year's classified intelligence budget. A Homeland Security assistant secretary previously acknowledged there were "plans to expand" a network monitoring component, named Einstein, which has prompted protests by privacy advocates. On Tuesday afternoon, the White House let slip a few more tidbits. It has not released the text of NSPD54, also known as National Security Presidential Directive 54, but a five-page PDF posted on Whitehouse.gov does feature a summary.