Experts to Testify on Increased Threats; State of Preparedness
(New York, NY) New York State Senator Joseph A. Griffo, Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, today announced that six Senate committees will hold a join hearing next month to assess the state’s ability to prevent cybersecurity attacks and to respond to and recover from a cyber attack. The hearing will also focus on the integrity of the state’s information systems and their ability to protect the privacy of taxpayers.
“This hearing will take a close look at the increasing risks posed by cyber threats, examine what New York State is doing to prevent cyberattacks that could threaten homeland security, commerce, and state government, and determine the state’s preparedness to respond to a cyber attack,” Senator Griffo said. “Maintaining the integrity of our computer systems and personal information is vital, and it is imperative that we are vigilant in our efforts against online intrusions.”
The hearing will be held on Monday, November 18th from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Griffiss Institute at 725 Daedalian Drive in Rome, Oneida County. The hearing is open to the public. Testimony is by invitation only.
The six committees participating in the hearing are the Senate Standing Committees on:
- Banking, Chaired by Senator Joseph Griffo (R-C-I, Rome)
- Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs, Chaired by Senator Greg Ball (R-C, Patterson)
- Insurance, Chaired by Senator James Seward (R-C-I, Oneonta)
- Commerce, Economic Development & Small Business, Chaired by Senator David Valesky (D, Oneida)
- Crime Victims, Crime & Correction, Chaired by Senator Pat Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) and
- The Senate Select Committee on Science, Technology, Incubation & Entrepreneurship, Chaired by Senator Martin Golden (R-C, Brooklyn).
Senator Greg Ball said: “In the new world we live in, everything from medical records to banking information is now digital. With the stroke of a key and very limited resources, those seeking to hurt the United States can do so in this new cyber age. What many citizens, including elected officials, do not realize is that our soft underbelly in cyber security leaves us wide open to attacks on a daily basis. This new digital age provides countless benefits, but also creates serious security risks and we must address this new reality as a state with a very clear eye. As the Chairman of Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, I am committed to staying on top of this technology shift and working together as a state to protect New Yorkers from cyber attacks.”
According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, in 2012 alone, victims reported more than $500 million in losses due to various types of internet fraud and computer attacks. Cyber crime poses a global threat, with England declaring that it is an even greater threat than nuclear war.
