Cyberattacks draw global concern
3 April 2008 (The Star) Brussels (Belgium):; Cybercrime experts from around the world are meeting in Europe this week to discuss how governments should counter attacks aimed at crippling the Internet and hitting users with data loss, identity theft and fraud. The European Union's anti terrorism has voiced concerns about cyberattacks and said the bloc was working on new laws addressing the increasingly common phenomenon. "Cybercrime terrorism is a source of concern.; We know how much we're dependent of the Web for everything,"; said Gilles de Kerchove, who co-ordinates antiterror efforts for the EU's 27 countries. "Shutting down the Net can really amplify a terror attack," he told European Parliament panel. A conference by the Council of Europe - a pan-European body concerned with human rights and the rule of law - will review the implementation of the Convention on Cybercrime, the only legally binding international treaty to address online crime. The conference in France is also discussing new guidelines for co-operation between police and investigators and Internet service providers in the fight against crime in cyberspace. Separately, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's summit in Romania is debating Nato's own guidelines for co-ordinating national cyberdefense efforts. The Council of Europe convention - which helps protect computer users against hackers and Internet fraud - has been signed by 43 countries, mostly from Europe but also including the United States, Japan and Canada. The convention also covers offenses involving electronic evidence such as child sexual exploitation, organized crime and terrorism. - AP |
