Northrop and U.S. universities launch group to fight hackers

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Northrop Grumman, maker of fighter jets and nuclear submarines, is teaming up with U.S. universities to research ways to defend against computer hackers. Credit: Wong Maye-E/Associated Press.

Northrop Grumman Corp., the defense contractor better known for building the B-2 stealth bomber, is teaming up with several U.S. universities to fight off cyber attacks.

Century City-based Northrop said it plans to invest millions of dollars over the next five years to find new ways to secure computer systems from hackers who are threatening the country’s economic and security interests. Northrop enlisted the expertise of the cyber research branches of Carnegie Mellon, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Purdue University in the endeavor.

The group, named the Northrop Grumman Cybersecurity Research Consortium, will initially take on 10 projects examining ways to identify attackers, protect supply chains and secure critical infrastructure networks, the company said.

Members of the consortium will coordinate research projects, share information, develop curricula, and write joint case studies, Northrop said.
-- W.J. Hennigan