New Cybersecurity Chief Named for DHS

Following the resignation of top U.S. cybersecurity official Amit Yoran, Donald A. "Andy'' Purdy, Yoran's former deputy, has been named as acting director of the division. In an e-mail from Robert Liscouski, assistant secretary for infrastructure protection, to DHS employees obtained by The Associated Press, Liscouski said Purdy was "highly regarded for his technical expertise and is well-known to the cyber community both in the private and government sectors.''

Last week, the Bush administration's top U.S. cybersecurity official, Amit Yoran, resigned abruptly as director of the National Cyber Security Division within DHS. The U.S. computer emergency response team, where former Ebay exec Howard Schmidt will become chairman, is the operational arm of that division, which has an $80 million budget and 60 employees.