Defense Dept. Considers Banning JavaScript From Military Web Sites - Government Activity - Brief Article

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, Nov 29, 1999

The US Dept. of Defense (DOD) is considering banning all JavaScript and other mobile code from military Web sites because the tools could pose a security risk to its computer systems. According to a report in online newspaper Inter@ctive Week, sources at DOD said that JavaScript and Microsoft's ActiveX have been flagged because hackers are increasingly breaking into DOD systems, and department officials fear that mobile code is serving as an easy gateway for them to enter military networks.

The tools are widely used by Web site developers to add animation and interactivity to Web pages. While DOD spokeswoman Susan Hanson would not confirm that DOD is talking about banning mobile code, a high-level government source told Inter@ctive Week it is common knowledge that the department's deputy CIO, Marvin Langston, is considering eliminating the use of the code within department Web pages.