Cybersecurity as the defining challenge of our time: Security at home, cooperation outside

Cybersecurity breaches occur at every level with alarming frequency and increasing sophistication.

- VICTOR ANDRES C. MANHIT

At the most basic level, we hear about breaches in individuals’ personal communication, endangering their privacy and financial security. How many cautionary tales have we heard about people falling prey to phishing attacks or similar moves, just because they carelessly let their guard down or were not aware of the risks?

Breaches on the organizational or institutional level are likewise prevalent. Different sets of actors are behind these attacks, from mere thrill seekers to competitors and advocacy/propaganda groups.

Most dangerous of all are attacks on critical infrastructure like telecommunication, transportation, utilities, and other large-scale industries that fuel the economic life of a nation. A breakdown in these systems would not only translate to personal loss but to chaos, resulting in massive disruptions, economic losses, even physical harm to citizenry. Rogue states and other elements are usually responsible for these breaches.

It is also a certainty that cybersecurity attackers will continue to find new, unprecedented ways to use their expertise for personal, financial, and political gain. While we cannot yet imagine the specific details or forms of these future attacks, we can be sure that these tech-savvy malign actors will always try to be a step — or numerous steps — ahead of any attempts to quash them.

Ultimately, cybersecurity is not merely an issue of technology. The casualties are not just networks or data or other digital assets. Instead, what is affected are public trust and national confidence in our systems and institutions.