Cyberattacks increasing on IT systems
By Ashley Curtis
19/04/2011
Cyber attacks on critical infrastructure companies are on the rise, reports itproportal.com.
Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) organisations like oil, gas, water and power firms are being subjected to an increasing number of cyber attacks, including various Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack last year.
According to software security firm McAfee, CNI companies still lag behind in implementing security measures. The increasing prevalence of cyber attacks should lead firms to protect their IT systems management software and other IT assets at all costs.
Threat levels have been raised after Stuxnet, a malware which exploits holes in Windows systems, sabotaged power companies last year.
Phyliss Schneck, vice president and chief technology officer for public sector at McAfee, told cnet.com that Stuxnet is crippling industry systems: "Stuxnet changed the game in our awareness. Attacks are being developed directly for the capability of creating events on a physical infrastructure."
The report from McAfee, which surveyed 200 IT executives, also suggests that nearly 30 per cent of executives believe their company is not prepared for a full-fledged cyber attack. 40 per cent expect a major attack in the next year and only 25 per cent of firms have installed tools to monitor network activity and detect anomalies.
About 60 per cent believed foreign governments and nation states were behind DDoS attacks.
