Entry Four
Compare cybersecurity risks in the U.S. and another country
Russia has a unique approach to cybersecurity techniques when compared to the United States. Russia is concerned with not only the technical aspects but also the cognitive aspects of cyber threats. The Russian government has been in control of information for the country for years, and currently takes the stance that the state must guard against interference from external threats. Official documents prove this viewpoint, such as the 2000 Information Security Doctrine. Russia also subscribes to the belief that uncontrolled information is a threat to the government as well as society. The internet sovereignty law was passed and gives the Russian government the authority to disconnect the country from the World Wide Web on the grounds of national security, with little explanation needed. Russia was successfully able to sever the country’s connection with the internet in December 2019. This is an extreme measure to achieve security but not a comprehensive solution, and only limits the extent of foreign hackers with no prevention for domestic cyber attacks.
Russia stands out among other countries because they coopt criminal hackers and have an unspoken bargain where Russia will tolerate their criminal activity if the hackers do not target people within the country. When the need arises, the Russian government may employ these hackers when security services require their talents. Citizens and businesses remain vulnerable due to a lack in cybersecurity resources to improve their own security. Many may still be using pirated copies of software leading to a dangerous inability to access the latest security patches. Many also would rather cover up being a victim to a cyber attack to avoid the embarrassment and loss of customers.
The United States faces a great number of cybersecurity risks to the citizens, such as loss or theft of equipment and email attacks such as phishing, many which are the same risks all other countries face just the same. Along with our freedoms of information, in contrast to countries with information controlled by the government such as China or Russia, we open ourselves to potential attacks. Information warfare has already influenced our political system. Russia’s attack using disinformation was an influence on the 2016 US election using social media in an operation by the Internet Research Agency (IRA). Simply put, the IRA launched information warfare against the United States and managed to create distrust and cause confusion in the political system. American election systems are another prime target for cyber criminals, creating a need for auditable methods to ensure our election system is secure.
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