ITU calls for global collaboration on cybersecurity

SECURITY

The ITU has called for greater international co-operation between governments and the ICT industry to tackle the global nature of today’s cybersecurity threats.

ITU said in a statement that the recent discovery of the highly complex Flame malware by Kaspersky Lab reinforces the need for a co-ordinated response. Flame was discovered by Kaspersky Lab experts following a technical analysis requested by the ITU into an unknown piece of malware which was deleting sensitive information.

ITU said: “International co-operation is a key element of ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA). ITU is fully engaging its member states and all the world's players in its activities, collaborating closely with its partners to identify current challenges, consider emerging and future threats, and propose global strategies to meet the goals of the GCA. A core element of GCA is the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats (IMPACT), an international public-private initiative - whose membership comprises of 142 countries - dedicated to enhancing the global community’s capacity to prevent, defend and respond to cyberthreats.”

Commenting on the urgent need for global collaboration, ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Touré said, “Flame is a prime example of why governments and industry must work together to tackle cybersecurity at the global level. Early warning of new threats is vital and it is critical that best practice on required corrective steps is shared in order to best protect the global information society. This is the value in building a global coalition”.

Cybersecurity will be a major agenda theme at ITU Telecom World 2012 (Dubai, 14-18 October 2012), supported by key partners, one of whom is Kaspersky Lab. This agenda will explore issues such as mitigating risks posed by major coordinated cyber-attacks at the national level, the threats posed by malware such as Flame, and strengthening international cooperation.

Kaspersky Lab CEO Eugene Kaspersky will deliver a Visionary Keynote speech at the event, outlining the magnitude and global nature of cyberthreats today.

Kaspersky notes: “As recent events have only served to underline, Cybersecurity is a key global concern facing us all, and it is crucial that we use the international platform provided by such a top-level event as ITU Telecom World 2012 to conduct the full and proper discussions needed to best tackle this issue.”