Cybercrime number one threat

Cybercrime has become as big a threat to Europe’s security as terrorism, the head of the continent’s policing agency warned on Saturday. 

“The threat online is huge. It is now the number one security concern, alongside terrorism,” Europol chief Rob Wainwright said. 

“It’s become a global problem and we urgently need global instruments to deal with it,” the continent’s police czar said. 

Wainwright was speaking on the sidelines of a global cyber conference ending in The Hague, which focused on issues such as Internet freedom, safety and security. 

More than 1,500 delegates from almost 100 countries, civil society and tech industry giants such as Microsoft, Facebookand Cisco gathered for the two-day Global Conference on CyberSpace (GCCS) in the Netherlands. 

Delegates on Friday launched a forum designed to serve as a platform for countries to share expertise in the fight against cyber threats, including hacking attacks and data protection. 

With backers including the United States, Britain and the Netherlands, the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise will for the first time bring together the experiences of a wide range of online companies and players including Microsoft and Europol. 

“This is an extremely important initiative that will help many countries, particularly in the developing world, build up their capacity to tackle the issue,” Christopher Painter, US State Department Coordinator for Cyber Issues said. 

Painter said Washington was deeply concerned about the rise in cyber attacks reported in recent months. 

These include an attack against Sony Pictures as well as the theft of credit card and health information from tens of millions of Americans. 

Forty-two countries and regional groups including the European Union, the African Union and the Organization of American States have also already signed up to the forum, which will be based in the Netherlands, Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said. 

The details of its operation will be fleshed out in coming months. 

Wainwright said “if we have learnt anything about how the Internet has changed criminal activity inEurope and America, it is that we were unprepared for it.” 

“The Internet has raced ahead of our offline world,” he said.

‘Internet of Things’

At the moment, the “Internet of Things” — where devices from televisions, to refrigerators, door locks and thermostats are interlinked — must be scrutinised for security weaknesses, said Stock, a former high-ranking German law enforcement official.

“As technology development speeds ahead, so do the criminals, quite frankly leaving the world’s governments and their police forces behind,” he said.

“We must embrace developments such as the Internet of Things …and the advantages they bring while simultaneously driving dialogue about their security and their safe use,” he added.

“If we do not break down the walls of silence, if the world does not work together, we could soon see cybercriminals use our homes against us, and even our bodies.”

A study by the Hewlett-Packard security unit Fortify released last July found 70 per cent of the most commonly used “Internet of Things” devices contain vulnerabilities, including inadequate passwords or encryption.

The study said eight of 10 devices tested leaked private information that could include the user’s name, email address, home address, date of birth, credit card or health information.

The study followed multiple warnings about the hacking of medical devices, cars, televisions and even toilets that have an Internet connection.

Stock said another priority is a discussion on “the place of anonymity on the Internet and the need of police to identify and trace cybercriminals while nonetheless safeguarding the privacy of other users”. 

(With inputs from AFP)