The New York Times has reported that secret talks are being held in Geneva between US officials and Russia, as well as United Nations’ arms control committee, about dealing with the growing threat of advanced cyber-crime, and the ever-increasing number of cyber-attacks. 

While the Bush administration had rebuffed Russian initiation of talks on a cyberwarfare disarmament treaty, the officials of the Obama administration, apparently looking at attempts to strengthen Internet security, are involved in discussions with their Russian counterparts.

Following a series of major, large-scale cyber attacks, including those on banks, businesses, government agencies and even the military, the potential for cyber warfare has undoubtedly become a burning issue of late. The last year conflict between Russia and Georgia saw a tring of major online attacks, while the functioning of the Estonian government was virtually stalled after an internet assault in 2007.

While critics are of the opinion that the scale and impact of such cyber incidents possibly have been overstated, experts have clearly noted grave dangers not only from criminal gangs that operate online, but also of state-sponsored espionage conducted via the Web route.

Noting that the American and Russian diplomats are attempting to work out an international consensus on dealing with cybersecurity problems, cyber security expert James Lewis said: “Both sides are making positive noises. We've never seen that before.”