FCC Turns Focus To Cyber Security Following iPad and Google Incidents

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission says cyber security is now a "high priority" following security breaches in Apple's iPad and Google's collection of private WiFi data.

In May, it was revealed Google had collected private information sent over WiFi as its Street View cars drove around collecting data for Google Maps.

And this week the FBI announced it had opened an investigation into a security breach of Apple's iPad following confirmation that the email addresses of dozens of CEOs, military officials, top politicians and media personalities have been compromised.

FCC Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Joel Gurin, said the iPad incident appears to be a classic security breach.

"The kind that could happen, and has happened, to many companies and is exactly the kind of incident that has led the FCC to focus on cyber security. Our Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau is now addressing cyber security as a high priority," Mr Gurin wrote on the FCC blog.

He said the FCC’s mission is to ensure that broadband networks are safe and secure, and it was committed to working with all stakeholders to prevent problems like this in the future.

"Google’s behavior also raises important concerns. Whether intentional or not, collecting information sent over WiFi networks clearly infringes on consumer privacy," he said.

Mr Gurin said the Google incident is a reminder that “open” WiFi networks - those that are not encrypted - are all too vulnerable to cyber snooping.

He said the Federal Trade Commission has a guide to wireless safety (http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/wireless-security.aspx) that can help people keep information safe over WiFi.

(C) NewsRoom America 2010