William Hague says UK is ready to host an international conference on cyber threats

Foreign secretary says summit could agree 'a set of standards on how countries should act in cyberspace'

Britain is offering to host an international conference to look at how best governments can collaborate in the fight against cyber crime and cyber espionage.

Speaking at a security conference in Germany, foreign secretary William Hague said cyber security was on the agenda of some 30 international organisations, but the debate lacked focus, according to news agency Reuters.

"We believe there is a need for a more comprehensive, structured dialogue to begin to build consensus among like-minded countries and lay the basis for agreement on a set of standards on how countries should act in cyberspace," he said.

"The UK is prepared to host an international conference later this year to discuss norms of acceptable behaviour in cyberspace."

In his speech, Hague also revealed details of several recent attacks on British government or defence contractors' computer systems.

He explained that last year, a malicious file posing as a report on a nuclear Trident missile was sent to a defence contractor by someone masquerading as an employee of another defence firm.

"The email was detected and blocked, but its purpose was undoubtedly to steal information relating to sensitive defence projects," he said.

The UK's coalition government has produced a new national security strategy that ranks cyber attack and cyber crime as a high priority risk. It has pledged to spend £650m on a national cyber security programme.