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Cyber-terror big concern at conference: woodtv.com
Cyber-terror big concern at conference
Annual Homeland Security Conference in GR
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - One year to the day after Osama Bin Laden
was captured and killed, the threat of terrorism -- foreign-born or home-grown -- remains.
So what is the biggest threat facing us today? 24 Hour News 8 went to a conference in Grand Rapids to find the people who can best answer that question.
The 13th Annual Great Lakes Homeland Security Conference and Expo at DeVos Place will run through Thursday.
Michigan State Police Col. Kristie Etue was among the opening ceremony speakers outlining the threats to the nation.
"Currently one of the leading threats against our country is a cyberattack," Etue told the crowd.
Along with all the vital data stored in cyberspace, computers control whether the lights stay on, the water flows and the alarms sound. Vital information could come to a standstill in a cyberattack. The scenarios are endless and frightening.
"We're quite fortunate to have a governor who is well aware of the cyber threat. He rolled out last October his cyber initiative," said MSP Capt. Thomas Sands, the state's Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director.
The initiative outlines ways to prevent, detect and, if it does happen, respond to a cyberattack.
The halls of DeVos Place were lined with gadgetry and services that have developed over the years.
But anyone in the homeland security or emergency management business will say one of the most important advances has been one of the simplest: They figured out they all need each other to be successful.
"When we don't collaborate and work together, then we're weaker. That's where we have problems," said Sands.
was captured and killed, the threat of terrorism -- foreign-born or home-grown -- remains. So what is the biggest threat facing us today? 24 Hour News 8 went to a conference in Grand Rapids to find the people who can best answer that question.
The 13th Annual Great Lakes Homeland Security Conference and Expo at DeVos Place will run through Thursday.
Michigan State Police Col. Kristie Etue was among the opening ceremony speakers outlining the threats to the nation.
"Currently one of the leading threats against our country is a cyberattack," Etue told the crowd.
Along with all the vital data stored in cyberspace, computers control whether the lights stay on, the water flows and the alarms sound. Vital information could come to a standstill in a cyberattack. The scenarios are endless and frightening.
"We're quite fortunate to have a governor who is well aware of the cyber threat. He rolled out last October his cyber initiative," said MSP Capt. Thomas Sands, the state's Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director.
The initiative outlines ways to prevent, detect and, if it does happen, respond to a cyberattack.
The halls of DeVos Place were lined with gadgetry and services that have developed over the years.
But anyone in the homeland security or emergency management business will say one of the most important advances has been one of the simplest: They figured out they all need each other to be successful.
"When we don't collaborate and work together, then we're weaker. That's where we have problems," said Sands.
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