US lawmaker cites new cyber threats to financial networks

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - The head of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee said on Thursday that significant new cyber threats to United States (US) financial networks appeared to be emerging from an "unusual" source.

Committee Chairman Mike Rogers did not specifically identify the purported new threat nor its origin but referred several times to what he described as Iran's growing cyber espionage capabilities.

"I think they're (Iran) closer than we'd all like them to be to come in and cause trouble on our financial services networks," the Michigan Republican told a cybersecurity conference hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce.

Classified briefings about the possible new keyboard-launched threats may have revived prospects for stalled measures aimed at boosting cybersecurity in the "lame duck" congressional session after the Nov 6 election, he said.