Goh said attacks by three computer viruses worldwide last month had cost an estimated 800 million US dollars in damage.

These attacks and the recent massive power blackout in the United States underscored the challenges facing modern technological societies.

The vulnerabilities of telecommunications, computer, airline, power and rail networks must be minimised even as societies benefit from them, Goh said in a speech to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) information and communications ministers here.

"The answer to network threats is not to close our markets or de-link ourselves from one another," he said.

"Instead, ASEAN should develop a common and sustained approach to the security of our telecommunications and computer networks so that we can enjoy the fruits of a fully connected region.

"Indeed, the gains of greater integration and advancing networked economies far outweigh possible losses from network attacks."

Goh told the ministers and senior officials attending the two-day meeting that "we need to protect our information and communications networks from intentional harm and degradation."

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

SPACE.WIRE