BRUSSELS, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The European community needs to take special precautions to protect member states against cyberattacks, a commissioner said Thursday in Brussels.
The European Commission had hearings Thursday on measures that would protect the computer networks of member states from cyberattacks.
Cecilia Malmstrom, the commissioner in charge of home affairs for the European Commission, said crime is finding new ways of being effective in the 21st century, making it easier for cybercriminals to steal sensitive information from computer networks.
"It is time for us to step up our efforts against cybercrime, also often used by organized crime," she said.
New proposals under consideration would allow lawmakers to prosecute producers of malicious software and require member states to respond to "urgent requests" in the event of cyberattacks in the European community.
"The proposals we are putting forward today are one important step, as we criminalize the creation and selling of malicious software and improve European police cooperation," said Malmstrom in a statement.
The proposals were sent Thursday to the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers for adoption.
