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Saudi oil minister says energy sector vulnerable to cyberattacks

By Pramod Kumar
People, Person, Man REUTERS/ Ahmed Yosri
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Saudi energy minister says the motives behind these attacks could be anything 

The energy sector is increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks and international agreements are needed to thwart the growing risk, Arab News reported, citing Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.

He said governments and companies faced a “collective danger,” but the kingdom was ready for such attacks.

Calling for global collaboration to help defeat the hackers at a conference in Riyadh, the minister said that international agreements are needed to mitigate cyberattacks just like the world is doing against terrorism.

The motives behind these attacks could be “anything  political, ideological, etc., and we cannot afford to be attacked without being ready.”

However, he stressed the importance of not being in a race with one another, competing on which country has the right capabilities to defend itself.

Meanwhile, Fahad Al-Jutaily, CEO of cybersecurity firm sirar by stc, warned an attack is being launched somewhere on the planet every 11 seconds.

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