UPDATE2: Russian PM calls for join efforts to fight cybercrime

(Adds comments from central bank in last four paragraphs)

MOSCOW, Jun 3 (PRIME) -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called for joining efforts on Friday to fight against cybercrime in the country, which causes more and more losses; a mechanism of cooperation should be well adjusted.

“Losses from this type of crimes in Russia is also growing, and experience and forces to resist are not sufficient so far,” Medvedev said at a meeting on information security.

“The bulk of intrusions are revealed post-factum, after a loss of money or blocking of a system.

“Joint efforts in the war with electronic crime are necessary to reduce risks and cyberthreats. We should treat the problem consistently, create and adjust the mechanism of counteractions both on the technical level and creation of need infrastructure on the whole, and, of course, the legal basis.”

Tackling cybercrimes alone is impossible, and protection costs a lot. World losses from cybercriminals are estimated at some U.S. $500 billion, and losses in Russia are also growing, Medvedev said.

“Activities of these criminals and the number of crimes grow everywhere, if not in a geometrical, but in a certain progression. There are facts of uncovering criminal groups, as we’ve recently heard the information,” the prime minister said.

“Evidently, the problem is not solved this way, by means of detention, meanwhile it’s a result of teamwork of specialists in the sphere of security and law-enforcement agencies.”

The Federal Security Service said on Wednesday that jointly with the Interior Ministry and the National Guard, the service had uncovered hackers who allegedly stole 1.7 billion rubles from domestic financial companies and detained about 50 suspects from 15 regions of the country.

Artyom Sychov, a deputy director of the main information security department at the central bank, said later in the day that the government can create a working group to resist cybercrimes.

“There are several directions (discussed at the meeting): alteration of laws, strengthening of FinCERT (the regulator’s center monitoring and reacting to cyberattacks) and launching a big state antifraud system,” Sychov told reporters.

Functions of FinCERT will not be expanded, but its technical expertise and interrelations with credit organizations will be enforced. “These directions were confirmed,” he said.

“The government will most likely create a working group on the matter, because the main issue is changes to legislation,” Sychov said, adding that the central bank will join the group.

(66.7491 rubles – U.S. $1)

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