Cyber-crime 'inevitable' in aftermath of terrorist attack

US military reprisals for last week's terrorists attack will put the country's key internet sites at risk of cyber attacks, according to a report by Gartner.

The report states that attacks will "inevitably" hit US government, financial and political sites, and similar ones in countries seen to be supporters of US actions.

It is thought that hackers will use the World Trade Center events as an excuse for cyber vandalism, although it warns that severe attacks are also to be expected.

Gartner advises companies to find alternative ways to communicate and generate revenue in the event of denial-of-service disruptions, and to double-check security on net-exposed systems.

At least some ISPs can expect real-time surveillance by the US government, according to the report, which also says: "Stringent export controls on strong encryption technologies - so far largely ineffectual - will probably be revived."

Some Taliban sites have been hit over the last week, mainly by denial of service attacks and defacements. However this has provoked condemnation by western hacking organisations.

A new denial of service virus named WTC - a new version of the Life Stages virus - has been circulating. The virus spreads via Outlook address books.