A global reaction to cybercrimes posed on nuclear facilities

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

In response to growing threats of cybercrime and cyber attacks in recent years, a first-ever

conference on this issue was opened  at the International Atomic Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna on June 1st.  The conference, organized in cooperation with INTERPOL, illustrated ways member states and stakeholders can better anticipate and protect themselves from cyber attacks.

In addition, member states addressed to trends in cyber attacks and defense, computer security management in nuclear security systems, computer security analysis, computer security for industrial control systems and operator experience in implementing computer security systems.

The inaugural International Conference on Computer Security in a Nuclear World sends an important message, said Yukiya Amano, IAEA Director General , that the world is finally “serious about protecting nuclear and other radioactive material.  Reports of actual or attempted cyber attacks are now virtually a daily occurrence”, and added: “Last year alone, there were cases of random malware-based attacks at nuclear power plants and of such facilities being specifically targeted.”

Although cyber attacks are a major threat particularly in developing countries where criminals can exploit legal loopholes and weak security measures, no country today is safe from such threats. Staff responsible for nuclear security should know how to repel cyber-attacks and to limit the damage if systems are actually penetrated,” Amano continued. “The IAEA is doing what it can to help governments, organizations, and individuals adapt to evolving technology-driven threats from skilled cyber adversaries.”

The conference is a milestone in a global understanding of the ramifications rising from cyber-threats posed

on nuclear facilities.