Agencies describe bug-patching problems that render systems vulnerable to cyberattack. Government agencies are spending billions on technology for homeland security, yet system vulnerabilities are increasing exponentially, agency representatives told a Congressional panel this week. Incidents due to security weaknesses in computer systems in the U.S. have skyrocketed from about 9800 in 1999 to more than 137,500 in 2003, according to the U.S. Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) at Carnegie-Mellon University–so reports Robert Dacey, director of information security issues in the General Accounting Office. The GAO prepared a status report on how government agencies and departments are progressing with software patches and other protection measures against cyberattacks. Full Story