In response to an unprecedented wave of attacks on the Defense Department's computer networks, and possible theft of information about U.S. weapons systems by foreign governments, the Pentagon has quietly begun sharing classified intelligence about hackers and online threats with the country's biggest defense contractors. The new intelligence partnership, which has not been previously reported, is known as the Defense Industrial Base initiative, or "the DIB."

Tomorrow’s edition of National Journal will feature this story, which has already been posted to the Web site. (Free to non-subscribers.)

Also, in light of recent press reports about cyber spies penetrating the U.S. electrical grid, I’m enclosing a link to a story we ran last year on the cover of the magazine: “Computer hackers in China, including those working on behalf of the Chinese government and military, have penetrated deeply into the information systems of U.S. companies and government agencies, stolen proprietary information from American executives in advance of their business meetings in China, and, in a few cases, gained access to electric power plants in the United States.”

Labels: Cyber War, Homeland Security, Intelligence, Technology