Cyber attacks on UK at "disturbing" levels
By David Howells
31/10/2011
The number of cyber attacks on the UK has risen to "disturbing" levels, experts have claimed.
Iain Lobban, director of the communications intelligence agency GCHQ claimed that in recent years, the UK has been subjected to a disturbing number of cyber attacks and that something serious needed to be done to combat it rising further, BBC News reports.
It is not just individuals and businesses that have been the victims of such attacks, however, with Lobban reporting on government and defence computers being attacked, as well as the databases of large technology and engineering firms.
It is hoped that the announcement will spur other businesses on to look at systems management software in order to better protect themselves from unscrupulous cyber criminals.
Among some of those Lobban highlighted as real concerns was a recent "significant" but unsuccessful attack on Foreign Office computer systems. In light of the attempted intrusions, the government is set to hold a two day conference on computer security and how best to address it.
Speaking to The Times, Lobban claimed: "The volume of e-crime and attacks on government and industry systems continues to be disturbing.
"I can attest to attempts to steal British ideas and designs in the IT, technology, defence, engineering and energy sectors, as well as other industries - to gain commercial advantage or to profit from secret knowledge of contractual arrangements. Such intellectual property theft doesn't just cost the companies concerned; it represents an attack on the UK's continued economic wellbeing."
