During a speech held last week at Purdue University, Senator Barack Obama has stated that the future administration must take cybercriminals just as seriously as it does terrorists. A terrorist hacker attack could put the computer networks all over the US in jeopardy, and that is why cybersecurity will be a top priority if he is to be elected president of the United States.

"It's time to update our national security strategy to stay ahead of the terrorists - to see clearly the emerging threats of our young century, and to take action to make the American people more safe and secure. It's time to look ahead - at the dangers of today and tomorrow rather than those of yesterday. America cannot afford another president who doesn't understand the threats that confront us now and in the future," said Barack Obama.

According to the presidential candidate, computer networks play a vital role in the US economy, civil infrastructure, security, and military power, and for that reason the cyber-infrastructure must be declared a strategic asset. The Obama administration will see that a security policy is implemented on a national scale, so that hackers will find themselves hard pressed to gain access to government networks, as well as civilian ones used on a day to day basis. Coming up with such a policy will require a joint effort from the Government, IT industry, and academia.

"Every American depends - directly or indirectly - on our system of information networks. They are increasingly the backbone of our economy and our infrastructure; our national security and our personal well-being. But it's no secret that terrorists could use our computer networks to deal us a crippling blow," said Obama.

By tightening up security, not only will the Obama administration be able to fend off hacker attacks, it will also prevent data leak accidents, such as the one related to the Veterans' Administration, which occurred while George Bush was in charge at the White House.