UK Industry Facing “Astonishing” Level of Cyber Attacks

Matthew 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Editor’s Note:  In May 2011, the Wall Street Journal published an article titled “Pentagon: Cyber Attacks Can Count as Acts of War.”  The article began, “The Pentagon has concluded that computer sabotage coming from another country can constitute an act of war, a finding that for the first time opens the door for the U.S. to respond using traditional military force.”

The head of Britain’s intelligence agency, MI5, said in his first public speech in two years that his group is fighting an “astonishing” level of cyber-attacks.

Jonathan Evans warned of “internet vulnerabilities” that are being exploited not only by individual cyber-criminals but also by foreign governmental agencies.

“This is a threat to the integrity, confidentiality and availability of government information,” Evans said, “Also to business and to academic institutions.”

Russia and China were mentioned as the countries most involved in state sponsored cyber-attacks.

Evans also addressed critics who claim security services are being alarmist in describing the level of threat. He acknowledged that some of the concerns could be “dogs that don’t bark.”

“However, the dog you haven’t seen may turn out to be the one that bites you,” Evans said.

 

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