Security & Defence Agenda

Cyber-attack on US DoD

News Article

20 January 201

China is alleged to have launched a new cyber-weapon against the U.S. Defence Department’s common access cards, with the technology to get inside individual computers after users open a standard PDF email file. When an access card is used, the virus embeds itself in the user’s computer and logs personal identification numbers and codes associated with that card, enabling the creators to steal information from military networks while troops and civilians work at their desks.

Upcoming events

Thursday 27 June 2013

SecDef' 13: Redrawing the security map

In the run up to the December 2013 European Council devoted to defence issues, and in view of ongoing austerity cuts in EU and NATO member states, the Security & Defence Day ’13 will address several questions: Does Europe have the means to fulfil its global security ambitions and stabilise its own neighbourhood? How could NATO’s ‘smart defence’ and EU’s ‘pooling and sharing’ relieve the pressure on defence budget and what could be done to kick-start a renewed defence industry drive? This year’s debate will span many topics, including how cooperation between the EU and NATO might be improved to avoid duplication in maritime operations, mitigate the threats posed by counter-terrorism and coordinate their cyber-security as well as cyber defence strategies.

Publications

What next for European cyber-security?

Charting improvements in European Health security

Cyber-protection of critical infrastructure

News

29/03/2013

Europol to get more powers

The EU police agency Europol is to see its powers expand and its performance come under greater scrutiny as part of a European Commission proposal set out on Wednesday 27th March.

Under the draft regulation member states would be required to provide the agency with more data and improve their cooperation on cross-border crimes and investigations. “The EU needs an effective and cost-efficient agency to help member states fight serious cross-border crime and terrorism,” EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström said in a statement.

28/03/2013

Giant cyber-attack slows internet

The internet around the world has been slowed down in what security experts are describing as the biggest cyber-attack of its kind in history.

A dispute between Spamhaus, a spam-fighting group based in Geneva and London, and a Dutch hosting firm called Cyberbunker, spiralled out of control as multiple retaliation attacks caused internet traffic to slow.

27/03/2013

UK government sets up cyber cell

The UK has established a secret cybersecurity control centre with the aim of coping with the growing cyber threat.