PM assigns setting up national committee to handle cyber attacks

The decision said the committee would be allowed to direct ministries of information and communication, public security, national defence and relevant agencies to co-operate to solve incidents of cyber attacks immediately.

The Ministry of Information and Communications was tasked to be the standing body of the committee. The ministry must decide plans to deal with the incidents, the decision said.

The decision was issued to fill the space for a national-level steering agency to co-ordinate rescue activities in case of a cyber attack.

Earlier March, websites at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCM City, Rach Gia Airport in Kien Giang province and Tuy Hoa Airport in Phu Yen province were hacked, causing people unable to enter these websites to get information.

Last July, cyber attacks reportedly occurred at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports. Hackers managed to display pictures and words insulting Vietnam and the Philippines, regarding the East Sea dispute, on the information screens in the check-in areas. The official website of Vietnam Airlines was also hacked and replaced by the same pictures.

The incidents raised questions about Vietnam’s cyber security preparations.