Congress Calls Upon Computerworld Senior Writer and Cyber-Security Expert to Testify on the Security of National Infrastructure.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 2003

Dan Verton, senior writer at IDG's Computerworld and renowned national expert on cyber-security, has been invited by the House Committee on Government Reform to testify at a hearing on September 18 regarding the security of industrial control systems in the nation's critical infrastructure. Verton's presence was requested as a result of his recent research regarding cyber vulnerabilities in industrial controls systems (commonly referred to as SCADA systems) for his newly published book, Black Ice: The Invisible Threat of Cyber-Terrorism. The Committee was alerted to Verton's expertise on cyber-security by an excerpt from Black Ice, detailing the threat of cyber-terrorism in the energy, telecommunications and financial industries, which appeared in the August 11 issue of Computerworld.

Verton's testimony comes during a time of heightened concern regarding potential terrorist action against the United States. According to a recent National Research Council report, the possibility for attack on control systems requires "urgent attention." In Black Ice, Verton exposes that the energy industry and other industrial sectors have opened their doors to cyber-attacks by creating inadvertent Internet links (both physical and wireless) between their corporate networks and SCADA systems - the computers that manage the actual flow of electricity and natural gas, and perform other critical functions.

"I'm honored to serve my country by testifying before Congress during what is perhaps the most challenging time in our nation's history. It's also a privilege to present lawmakers an inside look at my research for Black Ice, as well as my years of reporting on these issues for Computerworld.

"The security of the control systems and networks that power our nation's infrastructure and economy is an urgent national security matter. America faces thinking enemies around the world who understand both the weaknesses in the nation's physical and digital infrastructures, as well as the strategic political and economic impact that repeated disruptions of those infrastructures can have. It's time to take these targets away from America's terrorist enemies," said Verton.

About Computerworld

Computerworld, the "Voice of IT Management," is the most trusted source for the critical information needs of IT management. Through its weekly print publication, Computerworld.com website, focused conference series and custom research, Computerworld's integrated offerings form the U.S.-based hub of the world's largest (58-edition) global IT media network. Computerworld has won more than 100 print and online awards for editorial and design excellence in the past five years, including a Jesse H. Neal Award for "Best News Coverage," 22 ASBPE awards and BtoB Magazine's "Media Power 50" in 2003. In print since 1967, Computerworld currently has a guaranteed rate base of 180,000, a total print audience of 1,846,000 (according to IntelliQuest CIMS v.9.0), and an online audience of over 900,000 unique monthly visitors (according to DoubleClick). Breaking news and resources for IT management are available at www.computerworld.com.

Computerworld is a business unit of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research and event company. IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers and offers online users the largest network of technology-specific sites around the world through IDG.net (www.idg.net), which comprises more than 330 targeted Web sites in 80 countries. IDG is also a leading producer of 168 computer-related events worldwide, and IDG's research company, IDC, provides global market intelligence and advice through 51 offices in 43 countries. Company information is available at www.idg.com.

About Dan Verton

Dan Verton, senior writer and veteran investigative reporter with Computerworld in Washington, D.C, has written thousands of stories on computer security, national security, the intelligence community, and national defense topics. His work has been featured on the Web sites of CNN, InfoWorld, PC World, Information Security Magazine, USA Today, and others. He is also the author of The Hacker Diaries: Confessions of Teenage Hackers, published in 2002 by McGraw-Hill/Osborne. Verton makes regular appearances on national radio and television news broadcasts and his speaking credits include the United Nations and the Library of Congress. He is also the winner of the 2003 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for Best News Coverage for a series of reports on wireless network security threats at some of the nation's largest airlines and airports.

Verton is a former intelligence officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as senior briefing officer for the Second Marine Expeditionary Force and analyst in charge of the Balkans Task Force during the crisis in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 1994-1996. He is also a former imagery intelligence analyst with the U.S. Army Reserve. He has a wide range of military and computer security training, and has been responsible for training and access control of CIA and Pentagon intelligence databases and systems.