North leading cyber crime fight

Jun 26 2009 by Beverley Pearson, The Journal

SECURITY experts in the North East have tipped the region to play a lead role in implementing the Government’s new Cyber Security Strategy.

The Government published the strategy aimed at heading off online threats as it warned that terrorist groups will increasingly use the internet as a dangerous weapon in the future.

Security Minister Lord West said Al Qaida is intent on using the internet to launch a cyber-warfare campaign against the UK.

However, while the plan is centred around the creation of cyber-forensics HQ in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, security experts in the region last night said the North East could also play a key role in helping stamp out national cyber attacks. The North East Fraud Forum (NEFF) – a collection of public and private sector bodies including law firms and universities – offered its services to the Government in the fight against cyber terrorism.

The organisation has proved such a success in its five-year history that it has already been replicated on a national scale and there are also plans for a European roll-out of the model.

And now the group, which declared war on cyber criminals last year with the launch of the Hadrian Project, is hoping to assist the Government.

Chairman Alan Brown, said: “The aim of the Hadrian Project is to help provide the region with greatly improved tools and techniques for combating cyber crime.

“Ultimately we would expect other regions local and international will benefit.

“We welcome this Government initiative and as always are ready to aid and assist should we be required to share our expertise and experience in this important step towards enhancing our national security.”