WASHINGTON: The Pentagon plans to create a new military command for cyberspace, stepping up preparations by the armed forces to conduct both offensive and defensive computer warfare, the New York Times said on Friday.

The military command will complement a civilian effort President Barack Obama planned to announce on Friday to overhaul the way the United States safeguards its computer networks, the newspaper said on its website.

Citing Obama administration sources, the Times said the president would detail on Friday the creation of a White House office that would coordinate a multi-billion-dollar effort to restrict access to government computers, protect systems that run US stock exchanges, clear global banking transactions and manage the air traffic control system.