It’s 1899, and on a crisp September afternoon on a busy street in New York City, 69-year-old Henry Hale Bliss steps out of a southbound Eighth Avenue trolley car into the path of a motorized taxi and remains in the record books. Ta. . Amidst the rattle of horse-drawn carriages and the noise of early electrical innovations at the time, Bliss became the first recorded automobile accident fatality in the United States. His death came 30 years after Irish woman Mary Ward was hit by a steam locomotive in 1869, becoming the world’s first fatality.
Both deaths foreshadowed the carnage that would occur in the next century, thanks to the creation of the automobile, a new technological wonder that would literally propel humanity forward by leaps and bounds. The invention of the automobile ushered in an era of unprecedented mobility and convenience, but at the same time the first car crash was a tragic reminder that progress is a double-edged sword, and came at great cost. But they also sounded the alarm about the need for traffic rules and regulations, safety measures and road standards.
lessons from the past
In other words, society did not respond by banning or encouraging the use of automobiles. Rather, it embraced change and established traffic rules, licensing requirements, safety standards, and traffic lights to ensure public safety. 1869 begins again in much the same way. But now, as we navigate the information superhighway of the digital age, we must recognize that cyberattacks, like car accidents, are inevitable growing pains of technological progress.
The parallels between the advent of the automobile and the rise in cyber-attacks are striking. Both represent revolutionary technological leaps that brought significant changes to society. In the early days of the automobile, fatal accidents were alarmingly common. However, society did not hesitate to adopt this new mode of transportation, adapting and evolving. As cars became faster and more capable, they also became safer and more reliable.
Fast forward to today’s digital age and we find ourselves in a similar situation. The digital revolution has brought unparalleled convenience, connectivity, and innovation, but it has also brought new dangers and threats. Cyberattacks are accidents on the digital highway and are on the rise, especially since the coronavirus pandemic.
Common attacks on the rise
The recent attack on the Financial Services Commission (FSC) comes as sophisticated cybercriminals seek to take advantage of new internet users introduced since the pandemic, with cybercrime and ransomware attacks becoming increasingly common. It highlighted that.
In that respect, attacks on FSC, while unfortunate, are nothing new in this digital age. Indeed, most cyber-attacks tend to occur in the private sector, but as we discovered, governments around the world are not immune either.
For example, in 2020, the Canada Revenue Agency suffered a cyberattack that compromised the personal accounts of more than 5,500 people in the country and online portals associated with the COVID-19 Relief Program. In 2021, an attack involving Babak ransomware stole and paid a ransom for his 250 gigabytes of police data in Washington, DC, including officer personnel files, arrest records, and intelligence memos. Additionally, a ransomware attack in New Mexico in 2022 disabled the Bernalillo County Jail’s surveillance cameras and data collection capabilities, forcing prison officials to keep inmates in solitary confinement for extended periods of time.
no one is safe
It is clear that no one, not even the FSC, is immune to this cat-and-mouse game in which cybercriminals try to stay one step ahead of the most sophisticated cybersecurity experts and officials. And the key word here is “crime.” In the aftermath of the FSC ransomware attack, we tend to forget that a crime was committed here. A very sophisticated crime by a very sophisticated criminal.
Just as early automobiles rapidly became faster and more capable, so too did the need for better safety features. Similarly, as today’s digital systems become faster, more common, and more sophisticated, so too does the need to keep up with the speed at which criminals are devising ways to exploit them. What makes the situation even worse is that most online users, especially the 700 million people who have come online since COVID-19, have little knowledge or awareness about cybersecurity and practice poor cyber hygiene. The fact is that it is insufficient.
Advance
The solution, therefore, is not to turn back the technology clock, but to raise awareness and promote more robust cybersecurity practices. The simple fact is that our lives, both personal and professional, are now inherently intertwined with the digital realm. From banking to healthcare, education to entertainment, there’s no denying our dependence on technology. For many people, trying to disconnect from the digital world is neither realistic nor achievable. I can’t tell you how hard it was for me to deactivate my Facebook account because I was tired of remembering what I looked like with hair these days. Just to be clear, there’s nothing wrong with me not being there, but at least back then it was completely voluntary. Eventually, after hours of searching through the platform’s maze of options to delete my account, I gave up and the best deal I could negotiate was a two-week suspension for him.
The important point here is that technology and its inextricable impact on our lives are here to stay. And just as we didn’t abandon our cars after Mary Ward and Henry Bliss, but rather made them safer, we must act similarly to protect our digital environment. .
Another compelling reason is that the economic impact of cyberattacks is staggering. Governments and businesses may suffer significant economic losses, while individuals may lose their savings or have their personal information compromised. In fact, the World Economic Forum has named cyber-attacks as one of the biggest global risks, underscoring the need for comprehensive cybersecurity measures.
Then there are national security implications. Cyberattacks pose a real threat to national security, as nation states and criminal organizations increasingly use cyberspace to target critical infrastructure, steal sensitive data, and disrupt critical services. Masu. Strengthening cybersecurity defenses is no longer a matter of personal responsibility, but a matter of national security.
In this regard, the government’s efforts to establish a new National Cyber Security Agency within the next two to four years will not be quick. This authority is very important as it will create and provide comprehensive guidance on how cyber (our computers and computer networks) is handled in Jamaica. This organization develops national cybersecurity policy, monitors cyber threats, provides skills training, and develops human capital. Crucially, Jamaica’s Cyber Incident Response Team will also be upgraded, moving from being just a response element that deals with cyber-attacks, to bringing a level of governance, risk management and compliance to the cyber ecosystem.
However, none of these moves will be effective without increasing awareness and education of the most important node: employees. The average Jamaican needs to understand the risks and precautions necessary to protect themselves and their organizations in this digital age. It’s similar to taking and passing a driver’s license test. You can’t get behind the wheel of a powerful car without knowing how to at least start, stop, and steer it safely, right? That is why in many ways history repeats itself and again he begins 1869.
Maj. Basil Jarrett is a communications strategist and CEO of Artemis Consulting, a communications consulting firm specializing in crisis communications and reputation management. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, thread @IamBasilJarrett and linkedin.com/in/basiljarrett.Where to send feedback columns@gleanerjm.com