Wardens of the Web

Global security challenge falls to an elite corps

In every revolution, ideals eventually give way to reality--even in the virtual world.

Amid all the optimism of the Digital Age, the interactivity and social networking of Web 2.0 applications were supposed to realize the full potential of the Internet as a medium of the future. Yet even in its infancy, this new era faces a daunting challenge in the form of security.

The job of policing the Web has been left to the corporate world by default. The burden weighs heavily on a trio of companies in particular: Google, Yahoo and Microsoft--the three firms with the most traffic on the Web. Their work, alone or in concert, will likely define what kind of security can be expected for e-mail, purchases, bill payment, other financial transactions and practically anything else involving personal information of the most sensitive nature.

These three companies typically avoid public discussions about security, for fear of divulging information that could unwittingly tip off hackers. But they agreed to give CNET News.com a rare view of their internal operations and efforts to defend their technologies and online properties.

Despite their shared predicament, the companies have vastly different businesses, cultures, philosophies and methodologies that are mirrored in the way they approach the monumental problem of Web security. Specifically, three men--those chosen by their respective employers to lead the charge--embody these corporate traits.

This special report examines their work, how it reflects their companies' mentality, and what it will mean for generations to come. They are the "Wardens of the Web."

Day 1: Google looks to invent the wheel

Leading the charge in Web security at Google, vice president of engineering stands at the forefront of a critical period.

Day 2: At Yahoo, being paranoid comes with the job

All employees are encouraged to be at least a little paranoid. Meet the man who was the first to put it in a job title.

Day 3: Microsoft's lessons from the desktop

While similar rules apply to Web security, the differences are crucial and the stakes are high, says Microsoft senior security director.

Day 4: Solving the Web security challenge

Unprecedented amounts of data will need to be secured in new, untested ways. What's the best course in such uncharted territory?