120 countries building cyber-war capacity

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- More than 100 countries are developing cyber-war techniques, using the Internet for political, military or economic espionage, says a new report.

The annual Virtual Criminology Report by Internet security firm McAfee says that with an estimated 120 countries working on their cyber-attack capabilities, the world is likely headed for a "Cyber cold war."

"In 10-20 years, experts believe we could see countries jostling for cyber-supremacy," it reads.

The report, released Thursday, cites one researcher who said he had come across hackers in Eastern Europe producing custom-built viruses, Trojan horses and other malware designed specifically to attack individual corporations and government agencies.

"Cybercrime is now a global issue," said Jeff Green, senior vice president of McAfee Avert Labs. "It has evolved significantly and is no longer just a threat to industry and individuals, but increasingly to national security. We're seeing emerging threats from increasingly sophisticated groups attacking organizations around the world."

The report is based on consultations with "more than a dozen security experts at the world's premier institutions" including NATO, the FBI and the London School of Economics.