Dr Ian Brown discusses the need to protect critical national infrastructure from cyber threats like phishing and botnets. He notes the rise of a criminal economy online and increasing targeting of phishing. Brown recommends appropriately resourcing law enforcement, funding security research, using procurement power to require higher security standards, and diplomacy to address state-sponsored attacks. The House of Lords concluded some liability should shift to software vendors, ISPs, and financial institutions to incentivize innovations in security.

1. Dr Ian Brown, Senior Research Fellow Oxford Internet Institute

4. Internet Crime Complaint Center 2008 Annual Report p.3 Symantec Internet Security Threat Report 2009 p.10