From N.C. Bipindra, IANS:  Faced with a common cyber security threat from Chinese hackers, NATO is eyeing India as an ally in securing its computers that hold sensitive information and data against malwares and Trojan viruses.

With US already signing a cyber security collaboration pact with India this July, the 28-nation American-led political and military alliance is of the view that it can collaborate with the South Asian information technology superpower in protecting the cyber world, one of the global commons.

‘You have one of the most advanced cyber industries in the world…and information technology industries. The issue of cyber security is one that affects the United States, NATO and India no matter whether we are aligned or non-aligned,’ a senior NATO official told IANS at the alliance’s headquarters here.

‘The cyber world doesn’t recognise alignments. It only recognises switches and servers. As a result, we are in this cyber world together, whether we like it or not.

‘We better figure out a way to cooperate, particularly since it does matter that you have a neighbour (country) next door, which is pretty much involved in cyber issues, even far away. Because in the cyber world, we are equally close,’ the official, who did not want to be identified because of the organisation’s rules, said.

Although he did not name any of India’s neighbours, it was clear he was referring to China, which is suspected of being behind spy software attacks on American, NATO, Indian and Tibetan computers in the last half-a-decade, stealing highly classified military and security data.  (photo: YaHind News)