[28.05.2008 first posted on silicon republic]
Europe is in danger of experiencing a ‘digital 9/11′ if problems in national security approaches are not addressed, a European IT security organisation has warned.

ENISA, the EU Agency for European Network and Information Security, outlined some of the dangers posed by cyber attacks, spam and social networking misuse in its summary of its General Report 2007.
The agency said EU member states have a long way to go to safeguard the European digital economy.
It said that while spam cost business €64.5bn in 2007, double the figure for 2005, the fact that only 6pc of spam reaches mailboxes gives the false impression that the problem is under control. However, ENISA noted that spam is http://www.enisa.europa.eu/pages/02_01_press_2008_02_21_spam.html”>growing in quantity, size and bandwidth and remains a costly problem, with the unseen 94pc being an invisible part of the ‘iceberg’.
“Europe must take security threats more seriously and invest more resources in network and information security,” said Andrea Pirotti, executive director, ENISA. “ENISA calls for the EU to introduce mandatory reporting on security breaches and incidents for business, just as the US has already done.
“The member states should undertake concerted efforts to reduce the imbalances in security levels, through more cross-border co-operation. ENISA is confident that the need for secure networks to safeguard the European economy is a distinct driving force for member states to co-operate more closely,” he added.
ENISA stressed the risks of online social networking sites and recommended a review of the Regulatory Framework of Directive 2002/58 on privacy and electronic communications. It has also produced a feasibility study on a