Begin forwarded message (via Dave Farber's IP distribution): Steve Johnson, Homeland Security chief contemplating proactive cyber attacks *San Jose Mercury News*, 16 Apr 2012 sjohnson@mercurynews.com, Posted: 04/16/2012 07:35:38 PM PDT Updated: 04/16/2012 09:08:36 PM PDT http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_20410915 Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Monday she would consider having tech companies participate with the government in "proactive" efforts to combat hackers based in foreign countries. Napolitano, who made the comments during a meeting at the *San Jose Mercury News* with the editorial board and reporters, declined to say what steps corporations and federal agencies might take against foreign cybercrooks, who have been blamed for numerous computerized incursions against the United States. She made the remarks in response to a question, and emphasized the idea is merely one she would consider and that no decisions have been made. In discussing the private partnerships she is promoting to combat cyberattacks, Napolitano was asked if instead of just taking defensive measures, the government and companies should be launching proactive counterattacks against foreign-based culprits. "Should there be some aspect that is in a way proactive instead of reactive?" she responded, and then answered her own question with "yes." She added, "it is not something that we haven't been thinking about," noting someone else had raised the subject with her earlier Monday. However, Napolitano said some restrictions might have to be placed on businesses participating in such cyber activities because "what you are doing is authorizing a private entity to do what might otherwise be construed as an attack on another entity." [Long item truncated for RISKS. PGN] ------------------------------