Should Secret Service Protect Emails of Future Presidents?

Maybe it's time the Secret Service starts cracking down on the computer security of presidential candidates, in addition to their physical security, some private cyber investigators say, after a leak of Democratic party files right before the nomination of Hillary Clinton for president. "When you are running for president up and through [Republican National Committee] and DNC conventions, there are a lot of physical protections put in place for the potential president, however, on the cyber side we have not caught up in that world yet," said Tony Cole, global government chief technology officer for cyber forensics firm FireEye.

The Secret Service, in most situations, "does not secure the computer systems" of political organizations, nor does it "secure the computer systems of individuals, to include protectees," like major presidential candidates, according to a legal summary from the Secret Service. That said, Secret Service spokeswoman Nicole Mainor said that the agency "plays a significant law enforcement role in ensuring that candidates are aware of a range of vulnerabilities – ranging from physical protection to cybersecurity." She added, "The Secret Service continues to work vigorously with our local, state and federal partners to prevent and detect cyberthreats against the homeland, to include those against presidential candidates and their campaigns.”