Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Gregory Campbell Excerpts
Wednesday 30th April 2014

(10 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Maude of Horsham Portrait Mr Maude
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The majority of cyber-attacks and cybercrime can be prevented by basic internet hygiene, and by individuals and businesses ensuring that their cyber-security and internet protection is up to date and that all the latest patches are installed. We estimate that something like 80% of attacks can be prevented by that. The level of awareness is much higher than it was, but we have some way to go.

Gregory Campbell Portrait Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP)
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Given the amount of money that the Minister said is being and will be spent, what level of co-ordination across Departments is taking place to ensure that cybercrime is, if not eliminated, significantly reduced over the next year?

Lord Maude of Horsham Portrait Mr Maude
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We are doing much more to co-ordinate than has ever been done before, and last month I launched CERT UK, which includes the cyber-security information sharing partnership that some 400 companies now belong to. The sharing of information, which was very inhibited before, is now taking place to a much greater extent. There is more we need to do, but Britain overall is not in a bad place on that. However, we need to move fast because those who wish to undertake cybercrime and cyber-attacks are moving pretty fast too.