What is happening in Cybersecurity Space?

For every country, the main concern is the security and defense of the country. The main portion of the budget is spent on the defense sector. As you all aware that after the pandemic everything is shifted digitally. In our homes now 24/7 internet connection is compulsory because of working from home. Our devices or we are also always connected with the internet. Hence, users of the internet are increases in the pandemic. On the other hand, the usage of the internet is directly proportional to cyber-attacks or spam. Now many countries spending their time and money on cybersecurity because this is also the biggest threat. Any hacker can extract our important files or documents if we are not able to secure our device. In this article, I will try to cover some major news that is happening in cybersecurity.

The spike in cyber threats has affected the security of companies worldwide. Six out of ten companies are frequently faced with an unparalleled cyber-attack crisis. Accenture's study, "Innovate for Cyber Resilience," reports that most companies invest 10.9% of their IT budgets on cyber protection initiatives. Given this, on average, organizations face 27% of security threats every year, with 11% involving direct attacks. According to IBM's study, the estimated overall expense of data breach accounts is US$3.86 million. As 2020 has been the most stressed around organizations, cyber threats, security violations, and data breaches have also multiplied. Because of COVID 19, as companies migrate to remote jobs, they face a rise in cyber threats and data breaches. Reports say that cyber threats, including ransomware and malware, have accelerated by more than 200 billion dollars this year.

You are also very much aware of Russia vs. the US cyber threats. Russia has decades of experience breaching U.S. information networks. Cyberspace has become a new battlefield between countries that aim to hack or destroy sensitive information and chaos on the economy, attack power grids, and disrupt military and health care systems. The massive cyber assault on the United States recently necessitated both a retaliatory response from the United States and a renewed attempt on the part of that nation and its allies to adequately defend themselves from such threats. The new attack was crippling, with 18,000 consumers of SolarWinds tracking tools hit both government departments and Fortune 500 businesses.

Russian strikes on America began in 1996 with Moonlight Maze, one of the first nation-state-sponsored cyber-espionage operations. Russia was responsible for the Moonlight Maze attacks, which included the stealing of a vast range of classified documents from various federal departments, including the Department of Energy, NASA, and the Department of Defense (DoD), as well as defense contractors and private sector organizations. It severely jeopardized U.S. national security capabilities, policies, and priorities.

Bruce Schneier, a prominent security expert, and Harvard fellow said about cyber-attacks:

“We have a serious problem. We don’t know what networks they are in, how deep they are, what access they have, what tools they left, the only way to be sure a network is clean is “to burn it down to the ground and rebuild it”

Now all eyes on the newly elected president of USA Joe-Biden, how he secures the USA from cyberattacks.

I always appreciate the strategies of the Saudi Arabia Government not because I’m living in KSA. Every time KSA Government calculated the risks and take strict steps at the initial level to eliminate them before it strengthens in the region. They are not wasting their time in making plans, meetings, or long approval processes, they took strict steps on a fast basis to secure their kingdom. One the best example is that how KSA secure their region from COVID-19 virus. Now, cyber-attacks are increasing rapidly day by day and these attacks may have the power to destroy any country without physical war.

Saudi Arabia's National Cyber Security Authority (NCA) has signed an agreement with the UN Agency to start a campaign to create safer cyberspace for children around the world. The program will foster global discourse and debates on the safety of children in cyberspace, build cyber capacity to protect children, and assist countries in the development of policies to protect children in cyberspace.

Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) said:

“The global program for creating a safe and prosperous cyberspace for children aims to build capacities and knowledge for children around the globe that reinforces their ability to face cyber challenges”

In short, cybersecurity is as much important as defense security. Countries should start such programs or training which teaches their public how we can save ourselves from cyberattacks or spams. Many fake emails or fake discount offers are generating on the internet on daily basis, by clicking that offer your device is hacked. These all-small steps or tricks everyone should know to save themselves. 

Now I turn it over to you. If you have something to share with us about recent news in cybersecurity, please do so in the comments section below.