Obama Weighs Broad Program to Defend Networks From Cyber Attacks

President Barack Obama might create a broad new program to protect vital government and private computer networks from cyber attacks, according to a draft document being circulated in his administration. The government would continuously collect and disseminate information about cybersecurity threats in a new approach to combating attacks, according to the document. The administration is weighing taking action instead of waiting for Congress to pass cybersecurity legislation. The draft represents “early” discussions about how to update a 2003 presidential directive for protecting the most critical U.S. assets and “is not close to being done,” White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said.