08 Jun 12. The UN International Telecommunications Union (ITU) secretary ceneral Hamadoun Toure has urged member nations to work together to draw a peaceful resolution in a bid to counter the emerging cyber threats of and prevent a global cyberwar. Toure was quoted by BBC News as saying that the UN was interested in ensuring a peaceful resolution and a peaceful approach by states towards cyber threats.
“There is a risk of cyberwar, but it’s not necessary.” Toure said. “That’s what we’re trying to do: prevent. We’re saying the best way to win a war is to avoid it in the first place. “Our role is first to co-ordinate international efforts, not only sharing knowledge, but also training people, especially from developing countries because we want to avoid one country being a weak link in the whole process.”
Speaking just over a week after discovery of a powerful malware dubbed Flame, Toure said that the organisation had been following the threat since last month, and is currently trying to establish the source and full extent of the attack. Toure said all indications clearly point out that the malware has been created by a nation state. “The ITU is not mandated to make a judgement on who is responsible,” he added. “Our role is to work with partners to promote better co-operation.”
“There is a risk of cyberwar, but it’s not necessary. We’re saying the best way to win a war is to avoid it in the first place.”
(Source: armytechnology.com)
07 Jun 12. Northrop Grumman Corporation has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held M5 Network Security Pty Ltd, a Canberra, Australia-based provider of cybersecurity and secure mobile communications products and services, and advanced analytics to Australian military and intelligence organizations. The acquisition is subject to Australian government review. Terms of the transaction, which is expected to close later this year, were not disclosed. The acquisition is not material to Northrop Grumman’s 2012 financial outlook. “This acquisition enhances our ability to provide innovative, agile and proven cybersecurity and communication solutions to Australian customers,” said Wes Bush, Northrop Grumman chairman, chief executive officer and president. “M5 Network Security remains committed to maintaining the highest level of performance and service for our customers. We expect that as part of Northrop Grumman, our customers also will benefit from the cybersecurity leadership and extensive resources that Northrop Grumman can bring to M5 Network Security and its employees,” said Matthew Wilson, managing director, M5 Network Security.
05 Jun 12. Elbit Systems presents new Cyber Simulator. Elbit Systems announced that it has completed the development of a new cyber security simulator. Elbit Systems’ cyber simulator was developed specifically for the training of government, military and critical civilian infrastructure cyber defense agencies, to enable personal and group training of the different users in locating, handling and managing various cyber warfare events and attacks. The simulator also offers training in prevention of cyber warfare events, by simulating network protection scenarios. It includes various network protection scenarios and allows debriefing and evaluation sessions in order to draw conclusions from the trainees’ training performance. The cyber simulator is but one of the number of products developed based upon Elbit Systems’ accumulated know-how and experience in the field. It has attracted much attention from various customers in Israel and abroad, as a result of Elbit Systems’ extensive experience in land and airborne training and simulating systems and its technological leadership and achievements in the cyber security field.
07 Jun 12. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has approved a new organizational framework, a plan designed as a “first step” towards standardized cyber operations, according to documents obtained by Defense News. The framework outli