Clarkson may share $5m to study cyber attacks

POTSDAM — U.S. Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced Thursday that they supported in the Department of Defense appropriations bill the funding of $5 million for Clarkson University and ITT Advanced Engineering and Sciences of Rome to research offensive cyber campaigns.

Rep. John M. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, backed the same funding in the House defense bill passed in June.

The college and the defense contractor hope to work together on a project to identify possible threats to the nation's infrastructure, much of which is controlled by computer networks, and develop programs to protect information.

Clarkson spokesman Michael P. Griffin said that if the funding is approved, it will represent "a major new initiative for the university."