Doe Calls Meet On Internet Security

A crucial meeting of the Department of Electronics (DoE) to discuss internet security and related issues will be held here today.

The governing council of the DoE's project Ernet is to deliberate on the cyberattack on the BARC by a group of UK based hackers and attempt solutions to this problem.

Official sources said Atomic Energy Commission chairman Dr R Chidambaram and DRDO chief Dr Abdul Kalam will attend the meeting as members of Ernet governing council.

Ernet is DoE's research initiative into internet usage, content development, backbone infrastructure and other areas. It was made an autonomous body earlier this year with a Rs 80 crore budget. Ernet competes with Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) in giving internet connections to universities and research institutions.

The focus will be on how to incorporate security in an open medium like the internet. The DoE is building up a technical means to provide security without cutting into the information flow through the net.

Sources said the BARC web page break-in has brought home the realisation that the internet is fraught with risks and future growth will have to be seen from the security context.

The meeting will discuss setting up powerful exchange servers in India which facilitate links to various home pages.

Project Ernet is aimed at expanding internet usage and have 5 million users by the next century. It sees the net as the cheapest form of communication which can transform commerce, education and entertainment all over the country.