“Kona’s date of birth is not a secure password” – VG
BREST, FRANCE (VG) Cyber attacks on Norwegian interests have tripled in number since 2019, according to NSM. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor Party) believes that this is a warning that both companies and individuals must take very seriously.
– We have to wake up, everyone has a job to do here, says Støre to VG.
He says everyone needs to secure their data and digital storage better.
Støre himself has experienced data breaches, when the email servers in the Storting were attacked in the autumn of 2020.
The previous government later went out and said that Russia was behind it.
Does not go over
– The awareness of each and every one of us is crucial. It can affect the job. It can affect relatives in hospitals, or your data at the tax authorities, he says.
– And there is nothing to indicate that this is over, he adds.
Among Støre’s basic advice is this:
– Everyone must choose a secure password. Kona’s date of birth is not a secure password. 1234 is not a secure password. You need to be critical of everything you receive, and not click on links that you do not recognize. You need to update your software, gain the most knowledge and use common sense, he says.
Threat assessment
On Friday, the National Security Authority NSM, the Intelligence Service and the Police Security Service PST, presented their annual threat assessments.
The risk of serious cyber operations is high, says NSM.
It is increasing for companies that work with foreign, defense and security policy. The same applies to those who conduct research and development in defense, health, maritime technology, petroleum and space.
– It is not always easy to track who is behind it, whether it is criminal or state actors. In the reports, the security services in Russia and China point to the most active. Often there is a political motive behind it, says the Prime Minister.
– The goal can be sabotage or extortion. Or to destabilize, acquire the ability to paralyze hospitals, power supply and important data management, he adds.
Storage crane for Hydro
He points out that several large companies have been under attack in recent years, such as Amedia, Nortura and Nordic Choice Hotels.
– And Hydro, that attack was particularly large, says Støre.
The Norwegian industrial group spent at least NOK 450 million on getting their systems back in order after the data breach in 2019.
But public enterprises have also experienced attacks: Støre mentions Nordland County Municipality and the Storting.
– There has been a change of pace here, says Støre.
– We can expect more digital attacks in the time to come. Companies and businesses must therefore be vigilant and secure themselves better, he adds.