U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday ordered a 60-day review of U.S. cybersecurity to examine what the federal agencies have done to protect secrets and data, a White House statement said.

Melissa Hathaway, a top U.S. intelligence official, was authorized to oversee the effort, the statement said.

She would head the effort to examine all the government plans, programs and activities under way to manage massive amounts of data, passport applications to tax records, personal tax returns to national security documents.

Hathaway, who served as a top cybersecurity adviser to Mitch McConnell, the former director of national intelligence, will also carry the title of acting senior director for cyberspace in both the U.S. National Security and Homeland Security Councils.

She led Bush's Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative, which cost the government about 6 billion U.S. dollars this budget year, and has a reputation as a leading expert on cybersecurity issues.

"The national security and economic health of the United States depend on the security, stability, and integrity of our nation's cyberspace, both in the public and private sectors," said Obama's assistant for counter terrorism and homeland security John Brennan.

"The president is confident that we can protect our nation's critical cyber infrastructure while at the same time adhering to the rule of law and safeguarding privacy rights and civil liberties," he said in the statement.

During the election campaign, Obama had equated cyber risks to the threat of nuclear or biological attack and promised a high-level review if he became president. He has promised to appoint a national cyber adviser to coordinate federal agency efforts and develop a national cyber policy.