EET: Is the government stepping up to its role here?
Patterson: Various committees are looking at it, but from what I can see as a researcher they are pretty small efforts so far, especially in nonclassified programs. They represent very modest amounts of money.
EET: What's the problem?
Patterson: Darpa [the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency], which has funded a lot of great work, has decided to make a lot of its network security work classified. That's a decision that leaves universities and most startup companies out of the picture.
For example, Darpa's current Broad Agency Announcements look like fine research agendas in this area. But if you look at the end, it often says it is top secret [for example, see www.darpa.mil/ipto/solicitations/open/04-32_PIP.htm]. I don't know how that's going to help the rest of the country if it's classified. I think you will find other people concerned about this direction.
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