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Report to the President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection

James Ellis, David Fisher, Thomas Longstaff, Linda Pesante, and Richard Pethia
January 1997


Abstract: This report was submitted to the President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection. Based on the experience of the CERT® Coordination Center, we identify threats to and vulnerabilities of the Internet and estimate the cascade effect that a successful, sustained attack on the Internet would have on the critical national infrastructures set out in Executive Order 13010. Finally, we discuss the implications for public policy and make specific recommendations.


Executive Summary

Body of Report
  1. Introduction
  2. Key Factors in the Current State of Internet Security
  3. Assessment of Internet Vulnerabilities
  4. The Cascade Effect of a Sustained Attack on the Internet
  5. Implications for Public Policy
  6. Conclusion

Prepared for presentation on the web July 1997

Copyright 1997 Carnegie Mellon University