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Concerted EU efforts are needed to avoid a ‘digital 9/11’ and combat cyber threats

With the publication of its Annual General Report, ENISA, the EU Agency for European Network and Information Security,  highlighted key online security issues in Europe, showcasing how it helps to counter cyber attacks, spam and risks associated with online social networking. The Agency has already issued a position paper aimed at corporate and political decision-makers as well as Social Network application-providers: "Security Issues and Recommendations for Online Social Networks".
The Agency also underlined EU Member States’ imbalances in addressing security threats at a media briefing in Brussels. ENISA concludes that Member States have a long way to go in safeguarding the e-economy. Europe should not wait for a ‘digital 9/11’, but instead reduce imbalances in national security approaches.

Today, 30% of global trade is ‘digitally dependent’. Spam costs business about €64,5bn in 2007, double the 2005 figure. As only 6% of spam reaches mailboxes, the problem is perceived to be under control. However, it is growing in quantity, size and bandwidth and remains a costly problem, with 94 % of spam being the invisible part of the ‘iceberg’. The Agency highlighted its success in mitigating cyber attacks by supporting the set up of ‘Computer Emergency Response Teams’ (CERTs), akin to ‘digital fire brigades’. In 2005, only eight EU Member States had governmental CERTs, whereas in 2008 the number has almost doubled to 14, with ten more planned within the next one to two years. CERTs are key components in combating cyber attacks such as those in Estonia, or spam generated by ‘botnets’; hijacked computers of which there are 6mn worldwide used by organised criminals for sending spam and committing online fraud.

The Agency is an Expert body, providing independent, expert advice to the EU and its Member States, in e.g. Risk Management/Assessment, Awareness Raising, security policies, resilience, etc.

 

Author: ENISA
Published: Thursday, 29 May 2008
Last changed: Friday, 30 May 2008
 
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