Al-Qaeda Planning Cyber Terror War Against Britain
June 25, 2009 by national
Filed under World Report
Al-Qaeda is intent on using the internet to launch a cyber-warfare campaign against Britain, Lord West, the Security Minister, has warned.
Terrorist groups, which already use the internet for recruitment, propaganda and communication purposes, want to turn it into a dangerous weapon, he said.
Lord West issued the warning as he published the Government’s new Cyber Security Strategy aimed at heading off online threats.
As well as potential cyber-attacks from terrorists, Britain faces a real and growing threat from foreign governments such as China and Russia, and from organised criminal gangs, he said.
Targets include key businesses, the national power grid, financial markets and Whitehall departments.
As part of attempts to beef up defences, a new Office for Cyber Security will be set up to co-ordinate Government policy.
Another new development will see the creation of a “cyber-forensics” team based at GCHQ, the Government’s eavesdropping centre in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
The Cyber Security Operations Centre will constantly monitor, analyse and counter cyber attacks as they happen.
