Phantom 'Cyber 9/11' Haunts Cybersecurity Debate

Imagine trying to make travelers go through current onerous airport security before the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. That's the situation lawmakers say they are in as they seek to pass legislation to combat cyberattacks.

"There is a great divide between what American people know and understand about this threat and reality," Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said at an event sponsored by Politico. Sen Blumenthal joined Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) in noting that not only is much of what is known about cyberthreats classified, but there are no widely accepted examples of truly catastrophic or deadly cyberattacks. While there are millions of various cyberattacks or breaches each year, they're rarely scary enough to make a lasting impression on the average voter, or even lawmakers for that matter. Even the most glamorous and oft-cited cyber worm, Stuxnet, simply did its damage by making nuclear centrifuges spin too fast. The dire warnings haven't really registered for many Americans, said Rep Bono Mack, who is developing legislation to prevent data breaches. "It's somewhat difficult because we're not really hearing about it from people back home," she said.