NATO Sees Sharp Rise In State-backed Cyber Attacks: Stoltenberg
Umer Jamshaid Published January 19, 2017 | 04:40 PM
BERLIN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Jan, 2017 ) - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that the alliance is coming under an increasing number of state-sponsored cyber attacks, as he called on the bloc to boost its online defence capabilities.
"According to our latest evaluations, there was a monthly average of 500 threatening cyber attacks last year against NATO infrastructure that required intensive intervention from our experts," he told Die Welt daily.
"That's an increase of 60 percent compared to 2015. Most of these attacks did not stem from private individuals but were sponsored by national institutions of other countries," he added. Voicing deep concerns about the development, Stoltenberg said cyber defence will play a key role at the next NATO summit.
"We must boost our capabilities in this area," he said, warning that attackers can "damage the defence readiness of NATO and hinder the work of our armed troops". "All military activities are now based today on data transmission.
If that fails to work, it can cause serious damage," he said. Several Western nations including Britain, France and Germany have warned of a rise in cyber attacks, and are boosting their defence infrastructure to cope with the new front.
While Stoltenberg did not name the states responsible for the attacks against NATO, Germany has on several occasions fingered Russia as a culprit -- accusations that Moscow denies. In the interview published Thursday, Stoltenberg also rejected Donald Trump's criticism of the alliance's fight against terror and shrugged off the US president-elect's claim that NATO was "obsolete".
"NATO is already strongly engaged in the fight against international terrorism, and we are discussing how this engagement can be broadened," Stoltenberg said. The NATO chief added that he is looking forward to working with Trump, and voiced confidence that "the US will continue to be fully committed to its security guarantees for NATO."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Dubai Mum Becomes the First Ever Pakistani Woman to Climb 11 of the 14 Highest M ..
Over 37% Tobacco tax increase suggested to save lives, boost revenue
Mohsin Naqvi has offered a substantial incentive, pledging $100,000 to every pla ..
Citizens join Al Barsha Police in “An Hour for Dubai” Initiative
Art can be a powerful tool to relieve stress, Experts say at Sharjah Children’ ..
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 5 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 05 May 2024
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
More Stories From World
-
Football: Italian Serie A table
4 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP Madrid Open result
5 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A results - collated
5 hours ago -
Bodies in Mexico presumed to be missing surfers have bullet wounds to head
5 hours ago -
Rublev battles past Auger-Aliassime to claim Madrid Open title
5 hours ago -
Cesar Luis Menotti, football romantic who led Argentina to first World Cup
5 hours ago
-
Football: German Bundesliga table
5 hours ago -
Former Argentina World Cup winning coach Menotti dead at 85 - federation
5 hours ago -
Leverkusen extend unbeaten run to 48 games with win at Frankfurt
5 hours ago -
Rejuvenated Liverpool dent Tottenham's Champions League dreams
5 hours ago -
Furious Moyes blasts West Ham flops after Chelsea run riot
5 hours ago -
Teenager turns self in after attack on German politician
5 hours ago