Cyber security issue needs international commands like nuclear treaties

Governments need to establish "hotlines" between their cyber commands, much like the those between nuclear commands, to help them battle against cyber attacks, according to the point of view expressed by security expert Bruce Schneier.

Cyber security is a top concern for the world nations. Last month, the EU announced plans to cybercrime centre by 2013, and it agreed with the U.S. to set up a working group on cybersecurity. Meanwhile, NATO also adopted its Strategic Concept Charter, which outlines plans to develop new capabilities to combat cyber attacks on military networks.

Writing in the Financial Times article Schneier said that a hotline between the world's cyber commands would "at least allow governments to talk to each other, rather than guess where an attack came from."

He said that this would be a starting point and that more importantly, governments need to establish cyberwar "treaties."

"These could stipulate a no first-use policy, outlaw unaimed weapon, or mandate weapons that self-destruct at the end of hostilities. The Geneva Conventions need to be updated too," he said.

Another suggestion was to declare that international banking was off-limits, but Schneier added: "Whatever the specifics, such agreements are badly needed."

Although he admitted that enforcing such agreements would be difficult, Schneier said that governments had to at least make an effort to do so.