Cyber wars the new arms race - report

[Squawk]

Interesting ....

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26363929-5005962,00.html

November 17, 2009 07:06pm

THE cyber-battlefield is heating up, with the US, China and France leading a new era of IT warfare, a security provider reports.

"There is little disagreement that there are increasing numbers of cyber attacks that more closely resemble political conflict than crime," the report from McAfee said.

"The US, Russia, France, Israel and China are not only preparing their cyber-defences, they're also preparing cyber-offences.

"We have also seen evidence that nations around the world are ramping up their capabilities in cyber-space, in what some have referred to as a cyber arms race."

Attorney-General Robert McClelland has previously admitted Australia has been the victim of attacks, although he has never said whether the Government was being hit by other nations, criminal groups or individual hackers.
(err, what about the mysterious collapse of the website for the Melbourne Film Festival recently when China objected to an unpopular Uigher leader attending a film there!)The attacks are understood to have largely been attempts at so-called denial of service, whereby computer systems are overwhelmed.

The online group Anonymous has hinted at plans to attack websites related to Communications Minister Stephen Conroy because of the possibility the Government may decide in coming weeks to filter the internet.

McAfee said the discussion about cyber-warfare needed to be taken out from behind the closed doors of cabinet rooms and defence meetings.

"We believe this veil of secrecy around cyber-warfare needs to be lifted."

Important questions, such as where to draw the line between cyber-espionage and cyber-war, need to be discussed, McAfee said.

"Since governments, corporations and private citizens all have a stake in the future of the internet, it is time to open a global dialogue on how to manage this new form of conflict."

The willingness of some nations to test their cyber powers on others may signal the beginning of a cyber cold war. (eg the Russian invasion of Georgia was preceded by a massive cyber attack).

"If a major cyber conflict between nation states were to erupt, it is very likely that the private sector would get caught in the crossfire," the report said.

[dedja]

If only you knew how unsecure IT networks are ... even the ones that are considered secure.

[Farmy]

Who cares lol.

[Mickyj]

Who cares lol.

only the Chinese govt by the sounds of it

[dedja]

Who cares lol.

You will when some 14 year old pimply kid in Ubekistan fleeces your money out of your bank without anyone noticing

[Squawk]

If only you knew how unsecure IT networks are ... even the ones that are considered secure.

Indeed I do know, Dedja!