McAfee takes on critical infrastructure security

Energy, telecoms and transportation could be crippled in a cyber attack

McAfee today launched a new multi-point plan to address the key security threats facing critical national infrastructures.

The security giant announced the expansion of its Initiative to Fight Cybercrime, which was launched around a year ago and focuses on three key areas: law and policy, education and awareness and research and innovation.

McAfee highlighted the energy, telecoms and transportation sectors as particularly vulnerable to attack, warning that these segments could bring national economies to a halt if badly hit.

"As the issues surrounding critical infrastructure continue to come to light, it is clear that action needs to be taken by both the technology industry and government," said Howard Schmidt, former White House cyber security adviser, and president of the Information Security Forum.

"McAfee is taking a stand, and will make an impact by helping to frame this important issue by providing recommendations to both public and private sector parties. McAfee will make a difference in this global, sophisticated problem."

The Initiative to Fight Cybercrime broadly aims to alert government and industry to the value of public/private partnerships, as well as providing technical, business process and policy advice to key parliamentary and government representatives, according to the vendor.

It will also include education and awareness campaigns targeted at key leaders in critical sectors.