US launches ‘Cyber Storm III’ to test preparedness against cyber attack

AFP 

ARLINGTON: The United States and a dozen other countries are staging a huge cyber exercise to test the preparedness of their computer networks against a simulated attack, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has announced.

The exercise, dubbed “Cyber Storm III”, simulates a “large-scale cyberattack on critical infrastructure” and involves thousands of participants from seven US government departments, 11 US states, 60 private sector companies and 12 international partners.

“Securing America’s cyber infrastructure requires close coordination with our federal, state, international and private sector partners,” Napolitano said in a statement late yesterday.