Barack Obama, US president, lifted cyber-security high up his administration's agenda yesterday as he promised shortly to appoint a White House coordinator to oversee policy and effective responses to threats to government and private communications networks.

Mr Obama cited an industry report that put losses from cyber-crime - including industrial espionage and identity theft - at $1,000bn, saying the growing dependence on electronic banking and commerce made improved security both a matter of economic necessity and a key plank of national defence.