Online auction giant eBay is responding to the growing Internet fraud by calling in the nation's former cybersecurity czar.

Howard Schmidt, whose resume includes almost five years as Microsoft's top security officer, will become vice president of security at San Jose, Calif.-based eBay later this month.

Ebay spokesman Chris Donlay declined to discuss the issues that will top Schmidt's "to-do" list, but said the company was "thrilled to have him on board." The security post is new to eBay's executive ranks.

Schmidt resigned from government service less than two weeks ago -- the second White House cybersecurity adviser to leave the Bush administration in as many months. His predecessor, Richard Clarke, left his post to become a private security and media consultant after the White House decided to eliminate the Critical Infrastructure Protection Board and move its functions to the new Department of Homeland Security.

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