Biden strengthens US cyber defenses against Russia and China threats

Outgoing president signs executive order to tackle US vulnerabilities after attacks that have cost country billions

The Biden administration is making a final push to fortify America's cyber defenses against mounting threats from China and Russia, issuing a sweeping cybersecurity executive order just days before leaving office that aims to tackle vulnerabilities from outer space to consumer electronics.

The wide-ranging directive is likely to be the administration's last big policy push before handing the keys over to Donald Trump, who heads to the White House next week and inherits a new world of cyber-attacks that have cost the nation billions of dollars and punctured government offices.