"We take threats to the cyber world as seriously as we take threats to the material world," Mr Chertoff added.

'Desire to serve'

Speaking to a packed auditorium at the RSA Conference in San Francisco, Mr Chertoff pointed out that securing the nation's internet highways and byways was a job the federal government could not do alone.

Appealing to the private sector, the homeland security boss reached out and simply said: "Please send some of your brightest and best to do service in the government."

It was, he said, "the best thing you can do for your country".

And, if the crowd was somewhat sceptical about getting into bed with the government on this issue, Mr Chertoff talked of the first big-name Silicon Valley recruit to the cause.

Rod Beckstrom is best known for starting Twiki.net, a company that provides collaboration software for browser.

Having rallied to the cause, he will now head a new inter-agency group tasked with co-ordinating the federal government's efforts to protect its computer networks from organised cyber attacks.

Speaking at a news conference afterwards, Mr Chertoff admitted to BBC News that he needed the private sector to get involved and that he was unashamed in trying to tug at the heart strings rather than the wallets of Silicon Valley workers.

"We don't compete with the private sector with money. I can tell you what can motivate people is the desire to serve," he said.

"But, yeah, it is ultimately an appeal for doing something [more] for the common good than for your own enrichment."