Mar 09, Colombo: Sri Lanka Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) has planned to hold a series of seminars on securing state websites from cyber-attacks.

ICTA hopes to hold the first seminar for the administrators of the state websites in the backdrop of a number of recent hacker attacks on state websites. The cyber security experts estimate that over 500 state websites had been attacked recently.

The seminars and awareness programs will be conducted by the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (SLCERT) which, according to the team, is mandated to protect nation's information infrastructure and to coordinate protective measures against, and responses to cyber security threats and vulnerabilities.

The seminars will also be held for the private sector focusing on securely uploading data, use of strong passwords and also on the speedy actions that should be taken during a cyber-attack on a website.

Following a hacker attack on the Media and Information Ministry website last month that linked the website to an Australian Broadcasting Corp report on atrocities during the final stages of Sri Lanka's conflict, Sri Lanka blamed the LTTE rump living overseas.

Earlier another hacker using the online moniker Davy Jones has attacked several high-profile state websites including the websites of Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the Board of Investment, the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, the website of Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, and the Sri Lankan High Commission of Maldives.

Another hacker by the name 'Game Over' hacked the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) and defaced the website's main page on January 17.

Following the attack on the Media Ministry site, the SLCERT urged the private as well as government sector institutions to take steps to protect their websites from hackers.