Cyber attacks could cost lives, warns Shell IT manager.

Cyber attacks could cost much more that losing a few data files and passwords, claims an IT manager at petrol firm Shell.

Ludolf Luehmann says that security breaches for the firm could also lead to a loss of lives.

He revealed at the World Petroleum Conference in Doha that Shell has been the victim of many cyber attacks in the past year from criminals intent on either on causing malicious damage or looking to make some kind of commercial gain.

Mr Luehmann said that due to the nature of Shell’s business, the effects of someone accessing or operating their systems could have devastating consequences and they have done all in the power to remain as secure as possible.

Sam Jardine, TMT associate at international law firm Eversheds, told the conference that increasingly targeted cyber attacks are being made against firms in the defence, pharmaceutical and oil and gas industries are being made.

Asked whether the government should do more to protect firms, he said the answer is both “yes” and “no”.

He said yes in the respect that the government should be one step ahead of companies in terms of knowing the processes which hackers use and how to quickly eradicate them.
But, he also said that the government should not expected to foot the bill for such measures and the responsibility should still lay with private sector firm.

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