Athens conference plans Europe’s shield against cyber attacks

 

 

What would happen if Europe were targeted by a large-scale cyber attack?

 

ATHENS: -- Experts from all over the continent are currently meeting in Athens to carry out a series of exercises designed to test the authorities’ capacity to deal with a crisis, as well as levels of cooperation.

 

Under the umbrella of the EU’s Agency for Network Information and Security (ENISA), 300 organisations including governments and internet providers are taking part in “Cyber Europe 2016’:https://www.enisa.europa.eu/topics/cyber-exercises/cyber-europe-programme/ce2016 .

 

“We know there are already cyber criminal attacks. When you see than banking accounts are stolen, that other private data are stolen, what we have seen in the press. We have seen other attacks on tax, or even political attacks in Estonia or Georgia, eight to 10 years ago. So, what we are doing here is to prepare Europe in order to defend ourselves,” said ENISA’s Executive Director, Udo Helmbrecht.

 

International cooperation is essential. Cyber attacks are rarely confined to the borders of one country.

 

But issues such as sovereignty and a lack of trust between nations can cause problems.

 

“We really need reinforcement in terms of budget and staff and we really want and really ask all the member states, because what we’re doing here, it’s crucial for Europe getting prepared and getting ready for something that might happen very soon,” said ENISA’s Head of Administration, Paulo Empadinhas.

 

The exercises are carried out every two years, and last several months.

 

Euronews correspondent Akis Tatsis reported from the conference in Athens:

“Europe is preparing its shield against cyber-crime. More than a thousand people here in Athens and across Europe are striving to counter cyber attacks. They’re simulating a process that requires high speed, a high level of knowledge and effective cooperation”.

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-10-14

Well the EU certainly are poster model for the bureaucratic technique of being purely seen to be doing something when in reality they are just expanding their departments and budgets.

 

My advice to any young person would be to enter the bureaucracy, job for life, great holidays, no oversight, and well paid to boot. If they can get to the higher echelons it becomes a public funded life of 5 star hotels, sumptuous banquets and luxury travel. Then on retirement a large indexed pension, high paying company directorships on offer or places on public boards that effectively do nothing. It is a great life with your snout in the tax payers pockets.