Yes there are legitimate threats and huge legitimate issues, but the idea that the Legislative branch should just be able to knock any company or ISP or individual off the internet at any time in the interest of national security isn't a good idea at all. I also find the idea that all privately held infrastructure deemed "critical" to the internet, economy, etc should be required to have all of their security people be licenesed (note: this is not a certification) by the federal government under penalty of law.

If you want to know why these articles are popping up all over the place now, all you have to do is realize this.

Our federal government wants to pass this really awful piece of legislation which you can find a draft of here.

http://static.arstechnica.com/tech-policy/CYBERSEC5.pdf

They want the public to support it because it's got some fairly awful stuff in it, therefore the propoganda machine has started to insure that the public will ignore just how awful this thing is and cheer them on when they pass it.