Gulf countries must tighten co-ordination to fight an increasing number of cyber-attacks, experts attending the 2nd International Cyber Security Conference in the Saudi capital of Riyadh said Monday (February 27th).
According to Saudi National Cyber Security Centre director general Saleh Almotairi, all Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries are at risk, AFP reported.
"There is an increase in targeting GCC countries," Almotairi said, noting that both financial and government bodies have been targeted.
"If we co-operate we will be able to protect all sectors," he added, reporting that his centre responded to 124 "breaches" last year.
GCC members Bahrain and Kuwait also were the targets of increasing attacks over the past year, according to cyber security experts.
Hackers tried to penetrate the computer systems at Bahrain's interior ministry, said Lt. Col. Bassam Al Maraj, a ministry director, adding that the attempted breach originated in Iran.
Quasai Alshatti, director general of Kuwait's Central Agency for Information Technology, said financial institutions in his country also have been targeted.
