Key infrastructure often cyberattack target: survey

The majority of information technology and security executives at energy, transportation and other companies with a role in critical infrastructure say their computer networks have been infiltrated, according to a new study from a public policy research group.

Hackers frequently succeed in attacking businesses, security experts say, but companies rarely disclose the breaches because they are afraid of damaging their reputations and encouraging criminals. For the McAfee study the Center of Strategic and International Studies surveyed some 600 IT and security executives from the energy, transport, water and sewage, government, telecoms and financial sectors in 14 countries. "In most developed countries, critical infrastructure is connected to the Internet and can lack proper security functions, leaving these installations vulnerable," McAfee said. Some 37 percent of firms believed the threat to critical infrastructure is growing, and two-fifths expect a major cyber security incident within the next year, the survey showed, while one out of five has been a victim of financial extortion.