UN chief urges global rules for cyber warfare

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a speech during a ceremony at Lisbon University where Guterres received his honoris causa degree, Portugal February 19, 2018. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

LISBON: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on Monday for global rules to minimise the impact of electronic warfare on civilians as massive cyber attacks look likely to become the first salvos in future wars.

Computer hackers, many of them believed to be state-sponsored groups, last year disrupted multinational firms, ports and public services on an unprecedented scale around the world, raising awareness of the issue.