Microsoft security chief in special Bush role

Microsoft security supremo Howard Schmidt is rumoured to taking up a post as a special advisor to President Bush.

The company's chief security officer is expected to leave MS within the next month to join the Bush administration team to help the president with cyber crime.

Schmidt is set to work together with the White House cyber security adviser Richard Clarke, according to sources in the security industry.

Clarke was appointed last month to head the new White House office of cyberspace security which is designed to protect the nation's IT infrastructure.