Degrees In Homeland Security

Ex-DHS chief warns of cyberwar with hacker networks

Former Department of Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff said combating groups like LulzSec and Anonymous pose a unique problem for law enforcement because "the big challenge is attribution." However, it's possible that the U.S. government could find itself in a cyberwar with a network.

Chertoff, speaking in New York at a lunch hosted by Opera Solutions, an analytics company, gave a talk largely on cybersecurity. He noted that the U.S. needs to form a cyberattack doctrine that outlines all the nuances of attacks and various degrees of response.

The hardest part--given the high-profile attacks from leaderless groups--is finding the right actors involved. "Do we respond if we don't know who had bad intent, but can locate the server that is a weapon against us? Do we take out the server in real life or cyberspace? There's not going to be a clear line and we may take that server out in physical and cyber domains."

The big question with dealing with hactivists is finding the line where an attack moves from a law enforcement issue to an act of war. Chertoff said that the government would be reluctant to respond to someone "defacing a Web site or stealing data even sensitive data." But, he added, a loss of life could turn an attack into an act of war.

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One hypothetical scenario posed by Chertoff was an attack on air traffic control that led to the loss of life.

"We are at war with a terrorist network today so we can be at war with a network. When attacks moves from criminality to something that warrants a military response depends," he said. "This is going to be very fluid."

Chertoff's talk was notable because it opened the door to a point where a cyberattack could lead to a response to take out a server. Welcome to the new world.

Other key items from Chertoff:

Chertoff said the government needs to create a doctrine on what would be an act of war in the event of an cyberattack.

Homeland Security Degree»The Ultimate Guide to Homeland Security ...

Ever since September 11th, homeland security has been an industry expanding quickly. If this is an area that interests you, attending school to earn a degree in homeland security is your ticket to working in this field. Unfortunately, college can be expensive and many would-be students never go to school because they think they can’t afford it. Yet, any ambitious student wanting a degree in homeland security can get one with the help of scholarships and grants. Let’s take a look at how to earn this kind of money for school.

Scholarships and grants are extremely similar, but they aren’t the same. Learning the differences can help you save time when applying – you won’t be mistakenly be trying to earn the wrong type of financial aid. Scholarships are great for students who show merit of some sort. This can be accomplishments in the home security field if you’re already working in it, a high GPA as an undergrad or high school student, or talents beneficial to the college, such as sports skills. Many scholarships also require you to write an essay based on something related to homeland security, such as your career goals or why you want to get into this field. Grants, on the other hand, are given to students who have a need for the money. You don’t necessarily have to be the best and brightest student in the world to earn a grant, but you do have to disclose financial information.

The government is a great source of financial aid for students interested in the homeland security field. If you’re an undergraduate, fill out the FAFSA form to see if you’re eligible for the federal Pell Grant. Beyond that, financial aid is offered through the government through the Department of Homeland Security , as well as through other local, state, and federal departments.

Of course, there are other sources for scholarships and grants as well. Many colleges offering this kind of program have financial aid available directly to their students, an charitable organizations and non-profits in your local area also likely have scholarships and grants available. Already working in the homeland security field? Don’t forget to check with your employer to see if they offer any kind of tuition assistance program.

Below is a list of accredited schools around the nation that offer Homeland Security Degrees. You can also find additional schools or other degrees that may interest you with the search widget on the left or further down. Request free information as well from each school by filling out the “Request Information” form with the links provided. We recommend you to request info from at least four schools with similar programs to help you better compare your options.

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