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US assisting Middle Eastern allies against cyber threats from Iran | US assisting Middle Eastern allies against cyber threats from Iran |
(4 months later) | |
The US is assisting Middle East allies in building up cyber defences to counter growing attacks from Iran, it was reported on Sunday. | The US is assisting Middle East allies in building up cyber defences to counter growing attacks from Iran, it was reported on Sunday. |
The New York Times, citing senior American officials, said computer software, hardware and training was being provided to pro-Washington countries in the Persian Gulf to diffuse the growing threat from Tehran. | The New York Times, citing senior American officials, said computer software, hardware and training was being provided to pro-Washington countries in the Persian Gulf to diffuse the growing threat from Tehran. |
Plans to bolster the computer defences of US allies will be extended to parts of Asia in a bid to blunt the perceived threat of network attacks from North Korea. | Plans to bolster the computer defences of US allies will be extended to parts of Asia in a bid to blunt the perceived threat of network attacks from North Korea. |
The Obama administration has long been believed to have been involved in cyberwarfare against Tehran, with earlier reports suggesting the president ordered a series of sophisticated attacks on the computer systems that run the country's nuclear programme. | The Obama administration has long been believed to have been involved in cyberwarfare against Tehran, with earlier reports suggesting the president ordered a series of sophisticated attacks on the computer systems that run the country's nuclear programme. |
On Friday, the Guardian further revealed that Obama had set up a list of potential overseas targets for US cyber-attacks. The leaked directive authorises the use of cyber-attacks on foreign nations whenever "US nationals interests and equities" are at stake, and specifies that cyber warfare can be used as "anticipatory action" against "imminent threats". | On Friday, the Guardian further revealed that Obama had set up a list of potential overseas targets for US cyber-attacks. The leaked directive authorises the use of cyber-attacks on foreign nations whenever "US nationals interests and equities" are at stake, and specifies that cyber warfare can be used as "anticipatory action" against "imminent threats". |
The New York Times article suggests that accompanying a more aggressive approach to conducting cyberwarfare, Washington is looking to thwart attacks from regimes hostile to the US. | The New York Times article suggests that accompanying a more aggressive approach to conducting cyberwarfare, Washington is looking to thwart attacks from regimes hostile to the US. |
The catalyst to boosting the defences of allies seems to have been two recent high-profile attacks – one against Saudi Arabia's oil industry, thought have been conducted from Iran, and an alleged North Korean hack of banks and media companies in South Korea. | The catalyst to boosting the defences of allies seems to have been two recent high-profile attacks – one against Saudi Arabia's oil industry, thought have been conducted from Iran, and an alleged North Korean hack of banks and media companies in South Korea. |
A US official told the New York Times that the Iranian attack was "a real wake-up call" which prompted the Pentagon to draw up proposals to provide allies with better computer defences. | A US official told the New York Times that the Iranian attack was "a real wake-up call" which prompted the Pentagon to draw up proposals to provide allies with better computer defences. |
It comes as Iran attempts to hire computer programmers associated with illegal hacking, some from Russia. | It comes as Iran attempts to hire computer programmers associated with illegal hacking, some from Russia. |
The US is not the only country to express concern over Tehran's apparent increased attack on cyber security. | The US is not the only country to express concern over Tehran's apparent increased attack on cyber security. |
On Sunday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of carrying out "non-stop" attacks on its computer systems. | On Sunday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of carrying out "non-stop" attacks on its computer systems. |
"In the past few months, we have identified a significant increase in the scope of cyber-attacks on Israel by Iran. These attacks are carried out directly by Iran and through its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah," he told a conference in Tel Aviv. | "In the past few months, we have identified a significant increase in the scope of cyber-attacks on Israel by Iran. These attacks are carried out directly by Iran and through its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah," he told a conference in Tel Aviv. |
He added that "vital national systems" had been targeted and that water, power and banking sites were under threat from the attacks. | He added that "vital national systems" had been targeted and that water, power and banking sites were under threat from the attacks. |
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