Tag: cybersecurity
This is what will keep us human in the age of AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is making speedy progress in acquiring skills that were previously regarded as exclusively human. Whether it’s beating masters at the ancient game of Go or getting better and better at autonomous driving, the many emerging forms of computer intelligence are giving us pause as a species. AI is real and it’s the next big thing in our social evolution. Even if you don’t believe in the singularity — the theoretical point at which AI will outstrip all human intelligence — it’s undeniable that AI is playing an increasing role in our everyday lives, from serving up search results, car navigating, suggesting …
3 Strategic Necessities for the Growth of Cybersecurity
I believe that, in order for any economy – including Japan – to survive in the coming decade, governments must recognize that information and communications technologies (ICT) and cybersecurity are no longer separate issues, and they must take innovative approaches to address them concurrently. The technical aspects of cybersecurity make it complex and difficult even for professionals, much less policymakers, to grasp. However, the most critical elements needed to bolster cybersecurity are not technical, but strategic. Japan is placed uniquely on this issue. While we are preparing for the rapidly aging society and shrinking population, as well as the Tokyo …
What nature teaches us about managing risk
In the last few weeks, I’ve attended more than my usual number of international cybersecurity conferences, and the perspective, scope and dimensions of the discussion have evolved quite a bit in the last few years. I’ve been speaking with people from different backgrounds on this topic at events hosted by the United Nations to discuss the counterterrorism angle, by NATO for its use of the military and warfare, by Interpol for the balance between law enforcement needs and public privacy, and even by the OECD for the asymmetries that developed countries face in protecting themselves. This has allowed me to …
9 ways to stay safe from cyberattacks
“April is the cruelest month,” T.S. Eliot wrote, but if he were alive today and working in cybersecurity he might have chosen May. This month saw a ransomware cyberattack that was startling in its scale, affecting hundreds of thousands of computers around the world in networks ranging from railways to hospitals, causing treatment delays for patients in the UK. While the WannaCry attack was entirely preventable, it can offer several lessons about prevention and resilience that bear repeating. The price of complacency This latest strain of ransomware takes advantage of a vulnerability in Windows that, according to Microsoft, uses software …
These Are 10 Cybersecurity Myths That Must Be Busted
Cybersecurity was huge in 2016. From ransomware to weaponized Internet of Things (IoT) devices to foreign hacking of elections – last year saw it all. But many of these threats aren’t new and will never really go away. Over the last 25 years, one of the most valuable things I’ve learned in attending conferences and talking to cybersecurity experts around the world is that one of the greatest weapons we have to prevent cyber attacks is our own mindset. This column has previously touched on the importance of online hygiene and why you should think of your online activities like …