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Global Critical Infrastructure Increasingly Being Penetrated By Cyber Crooks

The Stuxnet worm, affecting numerous industrial control machines corresponds to the capability of hackers at penetrating critical infrastructure. A new study called 'Symantec 2010 Critical Infrastructure Protection Study has been conducted by the security firm Symantec that shows how frequent criminals do that.

Targeted cybercrimes carried out by criminals are regularly penetrating defensive measures of various significant industries from energy to finance. The security firm has recently released a survey of over 1500 infrastructure operators from around 15 nations globally.
According to Mark Bregman, Chief Technology Officer at Symantec, half of the organizations surveyed stated that they had experienced politically provoked attacks in the past, as reported by investors on October 6, 2010. Only one third of the respondents were found to be extremely ready against such risks. Three among five attacked stated
that the attacks even penetrated their defensive measures.

On average, amongst the companies who claim to be attacked, the projected cost to their businesses had sum up $850,000 (£536,000), as reported by itpro on October 6, 2010.

The survey also revealed that 48% of respondent companies believe that they will experience politically provoked attacks in near future. As per the report, among those who have been already targeted, companies usually reported sustaining around 10 attacks in the last five years.

Cris Paden, a Symantec Spokesman stated that the Stuxnet worm was an instance that politically provoked attacks, while unusual, was real and could be successful, as reported by SCMagazineUS on October 7, 2010.

As per the security experts, the outcomes may point out that Stuxnet-like attacks are more prevalent and efficient than what they were initially considered.

According to Justin Somaini, Chief Information Security Officer at Symantec, the Stuxnet worm that is attacking energy companies across the globe corresponds to the sophisticated threats that call for safety, storage, and back-up solutions, in addition to the verification and access control procedures to be in place for correct network flexibility, as reported by itpro on October 6, 2010.

Somaini further stated that customers should also do their part for the safety of the ecosystem, by updating their security software on a frequent basis and fixing other programs, as reported by siliconindia on October 7, 2010.

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