The White House has announced the new White House Cybersecurity Coordinator, Howard Schmidt.

The widely-rumoured move has been seen by critics as an effort to place a taxing liaison role into safe hands after a seven month lull. Schmidt has worked for eBay and Microsoft as well as holding a variety of high-level advisory posts, including special adviser on cyberspace security to George W Bush and chairman of the ISF.

John O. Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism told the press: “Protecting the internet is critical to our national security, public safety and our personal privacy and civil liberties. Howard is one of the world’s leading authorities on computer security, with some 40 years of experience in government, business and law enforcement. He will have regular access to the President.”

President Obama has taken a strong line on the importance of fighting cybercrime, ordering a sweeping review of US online security soon after taking office. The model of creating cyber defence centres with high-level reporting capabilities has been closely followed by the UK, and widely mulled in Europe.