London preparing to host cyber security conference

PanARMENIAN.Net - London is preparing to host a major international conference on the threat from cyber security attacks, BBC reported.

Representatives of 60 nations are gathering to discuss how to tackle the rising levels of cybercrime. It comes a day after intelligence agency GCHQ warned that cyber attacks on the UK were at "disturbing" levels.

Foreign Secretary William Hague convened the London Conference on Cyberspace, and urged a "global coordinated response" on policy.

Experts attending the two-day conference include EU digital supremo Neelie Kroes, with leading cybersecurity experts and technology entrepreneurs such as Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and Cisco vice-president Brad Boston.

Britain said it wants to develop a set of international "rules of the road", establishing "norms of acceptable behavior" in cyberspace, while stopping short of a full treaty advocated by some countries.

Mr Hague said a "collective endeavor" was needed to tap into the "enormous potential" of cyberspace. "How to ensure we can all reap the benefits of a safe and secure cyberspace for generations to come is one of the greatest challenges we face," he said.

"The response does not lie in the hands of any one government or country but it is too important to be left to chance. This needs to be a collective endeavor, involving all those who have a stake in cyberspace. The ideas and proposals we hope to emerge from the conference will develop into the 'London Agenda' - an inclusive and focused approach to help us realize the enormous potential cyberspace offers for a more prosperous, safe and open networked world," Mr. Hague said.

“The government has put aside £650m of additional funding to help tackle computer-based threats over the next four years,” he added.