[ISN] Singapore Unveils Plan to Battle 'Cyber Terror'

[InfoSec News]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=7698536

Feb 22, 2005 

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore is to spend $23 million over three
years to battle online hackers and other forms of "cyber-terrorism" in
one of the world's most connected countries, government officials said
Tuesday.

Describing the infrastructure behind the Internet as a "nerve system"  
in Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan said a new National
Cyber-Threat Monitoring Center would maintain round-the-clock
detection and analysis of computer virus threats.

"We cannot afford to treat the threats from cyber terrorists, cyber
criminals and irresponsible hackers lightly," Tan said in a speech
while unveiling an information-technology security "master plan" in
the tech-savvy city-state.

"Infocomm security is as important in protecting Singapore as is
physical security at our borders," added Tan, who is also Coordinating
Minister for Security and Defense.

Singapore has one of the world's highest Internet penetration rates,
with 50-60 percent of its 4.2 million people living in homes wired to
the Internet.

The affluent, predominantly ethnic Chinese island has also steadily
tightened security since the September 2001 attacks on the United
States, from patrols of heavily armed police in busy shopping
districts to tighter security at border points.

In 2003, Singapore passed strict legislation to allow monitoring of
all computer activity and for police to take pre-emptive action to
protect state computers from cyber attack.

Tan said the money would also be used to help businesses tighten
security for online financial transactions while guiding them to work
with the government in maintaining cyber security.

The Cyber-Threat Monitoring Center will link up with companies that
provide anti-virus systems and governments running similar centers,
including the United States and Australia. It is expected to be fully
operational by the second half of 2006.