US security experts are divided on whether their networks will suffer in the event of a major cyber terror strike.

According to a survey of chief security officers (CSOs) in the US and Canada, conducted by US-based CSO Magazine, nearly half expect terrorists to launch a major strike through computer networks in the next year.

The poll was carried out between July and August. Some of the respondents have links with intelligence and law enforcement.

Those who replied to the survey were divided almost 50/50 on whether the US Government and businesses were prepared to respond to cyber attacks.

But almost all of the CSOs surveyed said that technology vendors needed to boost security aspects of their products.

Only seven per cent did not believe that a group such as Al-Qaeda would never launch a major cyber attack.