Corporates Computer Networks Under Cyber Attacks

As per a new international survey report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, computer networks and control systems of corporations worldwide are encountering more and more cyber attacks.

The attacks comprise of run-of-the-mill viruses and other malware that often strike corporate defenses. Apart from them, actions by "high-level" adversaries like terrorists, nation states or organized crime also affect the security systems of corporates.

The survey also states that the attacks include sophisticated denial-of-service attacks in which a hacker tries to overwhelm firm's network with requests so that the network comes to a standstill (or hanged).

The survey discovered that SCADA systems, important networks and control systems that run dams, power plants, gas and oil refineries and other facilities are targeted by different attack techniques, criminal groups and individuals.

The survey has also claimed that different kinds of attacks have different sophistication level. Around 90% of IT officials surveyed informed that malware attacks were the most recurrent, however 70% informed about a wide range of other attacks as well which include phishing and pharming attacks, low-level denial-of-service (DoS) attacks and data leakage.

Almost 57% of respondents said that their organizations had faced DNS poisoning attacks wherein Web traffic were redirected, while 50% claimed that they faced some of the most widespread attacks - SQL injection - wherein hackers tried to acquire access of back-end systems through the company's website.

In terms of total cyber attacks, the CSIS report shows that national factors are important than industry or sector specific ones in deciding attack rates. The countries, which reported the highest rates of cyber attacks, are - Brazil, Spain, France and India.

The CSIS survey also inquired about the most vulnerable countries and 80% of surveyed in China cited the US as one of the three most vulnerable nations because it is dependant on computer networks.

Along with the US, survey's respondents claimed that China as another probable attacker in a cyber war. In addition, the US was considered as the most 'troublesome potential aggressor' by several officials in some countries like Russia, Spain, China, Brazil and Mexico.

Related article: Corporate End Users Disdainful to IT Security

» SPAMfighter News - 2/6/2010