Friday, 15 June 2007

NATO Wants Urgent Measures To Tackle Cyber Crimes

Defence ministers of several NATO countries have called for urgent needs to tackle the threat of 'cyber attacks' after Estonia’s computer networks were severely damaged last month....

Defence ministers of several NATO countries have called for urgent needs to tackle the threat of 'cyber attacks' after Estonia’s computer networks were severely damaged last month.

"There was sentiment round the table that urgent work is needed to enhance the ability to protect information systems of critical importance," NATO spokesman James Appathurai told a news gathering at a two-day meeting in Brussels.


"The attacks on Estonia were sustained, coordinated and focused. They had clear national security and economic implications," he said. "That will be the subject of work here."

Estonia, a former Soviet republic, was a victim of cyber attacks on private and government Internet sites. The attacks were prompted after the Estonian government ordered shifting of a Soviet era statue that led to wide spread condemnation and diplomatic row from Russians.

The attacks appeared to have stemmed initially from Russia although the Kremlin denied it was behind the assaults.