Defence Minister A K Antony today asked the armed forces to prepare a crisis management action plan to counter cyber terrorism. He asked the forces to coordinate closely with other cyber security agencies in this regard.<br/><br/>Mr Antony's directive came in the wake of reports of Chinese hackers stealing vital data from Indian Defence and diplomatic computer networks. <br/><br/>The minister noted that cyber-space had emerged as an important medium for information sharing, but at the same time the existing technology is susceptible to misuse by anti-social and anti-national elements.<br/><br/>Speaking at the armed forces Unified Commanders' Conference in New Delhi, Mr Antony said, of late, extraordinary and unprecedented cyber crimes have taken place across the globe, exposing flaws in cyber security systems. He also underlined the need for close interaction with national agencies like Computer and Emergency Response Team, NTRO, Home and IT Ministries to prepare a crisis management action plan for countering cyber attacks and cyber terrorism. <br/><br/>Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju, Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman and IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma, Army Chief General V K Singh, Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar and Chief of Integrated Staff Committee Air Marshal S C Mukul were also present on the occasion.<br/>