The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is latest victim of old school hacking.  This past weekend, an individual hacked into a low-tech DHS phone network and used it to make over $12,000 in long-distance calls overseas to such locales as the Middle East and Asia.  This hack is certainly embarrassing for FEMA but it also demonstrates an important lesson: the need for more initiatives to protect critical networks from hackers, especially within the cyber realm.  This weekend’s hack was the product of vulnerabilities resulting from a contractor upgrade.   If federal agencies are not adroit with regards to simple networks, it begs the question of whether sensitive networks have been left with security holes.  Washington must do better and create initiatives that respond to current and future threats.  Heritage expert Jim Carafano, in his piece, “Grading Cybersecurity Initiatives: Six Necessary Components <http://www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandDefense/wm1684.cfm> ,” delineates the right elements of cyber policy.  Current and future mandates should be graded with these six components in mind in order to enhance security, promote economic growth and preserve liberty and privacy of American citizens, as well as to respect those of our friends and allies.