The Air Force Research Laboratory is drawing up plans to thwart hackers of computer systems before they strike. In an Oct. 12 broad agency announcement, the service invited researchers to submit white papers with solutions to an array of problems relating to Internet security. Actual contract, grant or cooperative agreement proposals will face review at a later date, and will be funded by roughly $49.9 million to be spread out over fiscal years 2009 to 2012. Some areas of focus will include:
* Identifying and eliminating vulnerabilities before they are hacked;
* Making the cost of hacking steep enough to dissuade would be attackers before they strike;
* Devising ways to immediately evade attacks when they occur.
