By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-972057.mp3
Albany, NY – U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is pitching Utica College to the FBI as a cybersecurity training center. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
Schumer cited a recent Department of Justice white paper that found over one-third of FBI agents to be "under-qualified" to fight cybercrime and cyberterrorism. Schumer is suggesting an FBI partnership with the Utica College would enable FBI agents to be better trained to combat cybercrimes and cyberterrorism.
Tony Martino is director of the Computer Forensics Research and Development Center at Utica College
Martino points out that while the college's Economic Crime Institute and Center for Identity Management and Information Protection are the leading institutions in providing training for expertise in modern crimes like identity theft, economic crimes, and cybercrimes, there is no solid plan to follow through on Senator Schumer's proposal.
Senator Schumer was not available for comment --- in a letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller, Schumer writes - quoting here - "I believe the bureau and the college could form a training partnership aimed at strengthening the capabilities of the FBI cybercrime division while allowing Utica College to tailor its intelligence and forensics capabilities."
Cybersecurity has become a national issue, with the recent hack of SONY's Playstation Network, where the private information of 100 million users was compromised. Cyberattacks were also recently launched by Chinese hackers against the Gmail accounts of U.S. Government officials, journalists and activists. Tony Martino urges everyone: be vigilant when you're online - he says that almost every crime that law enforcement has been investigating for decades now has at least some cyber-component to it.
The heads of several Mohawk Valley colleges met last week to discuss cybersecurity programs and potentially branding the region as "cyber valley."
Cyber-related businesses have been attracted to Griffis Business Park, the former Griffis Air Force in Rome, where 11 of them currently employ more than 13-hundred people.
Utica College officials believe Central New York will grow in reputation as a security education destination if private-public partnerships continue to happen at area colleges.