From: Focus Taiwan

By Hsieh Chia-chen and Ann Chen

Taipei, Dec. 20 (CNA) Premier Sean Chen urged government officials Thursday to take heed of global cyber wars and be on the alert against state-sponsored attacks on government networks.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Chen said there are many indications of global cyber wars, some initiated by foreign computer hackers and some by aggressor nations.

In November, Israel carried out air strikes on the Gaza Strip, but a virtual battle was waged by cyber terrorists against Israeli companies, causing much damage, he said.
Taiwan government officials should stay vigilant against such attacks, he said.

Chen said United States Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta warned recently that the U.S. is at risk of a “cyber Pearl Harbor”– a series of attacks by cyber terrorists aimed at crippling the country’s power grid, transportation system, and financial system.

The premier asked Minister without Portfolio Simon Chang to take note of such issues during an information security meeting next week.

Taiwan’s representative offices abroad should be particularly alert to the risk of cyber attacks, the premier said.

He also asked Chang to strengthen cyber protection at the the Cabinet’s Office of Homeland Security and Office of Information Security.