President Obama creates cyber panel, says long-term vigilance needed

President Barack Obama appointed his former national security adviser, Tom Donilon, to lead a new commission on cybersecurity that will make detailed recommendations on how the nation should better protect itself against computer attacks.

Donilon will serve as chairman of the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity. President Obama will appoint former IBM chief executive Sam Palmisano to serve as vice chairman. Their task, President Obama said, is to produce a report by Dec. 1 that will guide future presidents on the infrastructure necessary to confront long-term computer challenges. The commission will consist of up to 12 members and make detailed recommendations dealing with the public and private sectors. President Obama said the Internet has brought incredible opportunity and wealth, but it also means "that more and more of our lives are being downloaded." "Right now, we are not as well organized as we need to be to make sure that we're dealing with all these threats in an effective way," President Obama said.