Obama's latest executive order: Defending against cyber attacks

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed an executive order seeking better protection of the country’s critical infrastructure from cyber attacks that are a growing concern to the economy and national security.

The long-expected executive order, unveiled in the State of the Union speech, follows last year’s failed attempt by the U.S. Congress to pass a law to confront continuing electronic attacks on the networks of U.S. companies and government agencies.

The order, which does not have the same force as law, directs federal authorities to improve information sharing on cyber threats – including some that may be classified – with companies that provide or support critical infrastructure.