The Revolutionary Socialist Network, Workers
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Cyber Security2NC -- Ext: Cyber Security LinkCybercrime is a threat to capitalism, building up defense and deterrence is a vehicle of which protecting capitalism hides behindDallas Morning 21 [Dallas Morning, 5-18-2021, "Cybercrime is a growing threat to capitalism and national security," Dallas News, https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2021/05/18/cybercrime-is-a-growing-threat-to-capitalism-and-national-security/, smarx, HHW] Not all crises can be anticipated, but some persistent threats deserve more attention than they get. Case in point is the cyberattack that crippled the Colonial Pipeline and caused fuel shortages across the eastern seaboard. According to published reports, the pipeline’s owners paid a ransom to DarkSide, a Russia-based criminal organization, to get its operation back on board. In a looking-glass moment, DarkSide issued a statement declaring that its goal is to obtain cash, and it did not have a political objective, as if that makes things better. Cyberattacks are increasing in magnitude and frequency, raising concerns that executives aren’t focused enough on this threat to their businesses, as well as the cascading impact on the overall economy and national security. In a digitally connected world, the importance of realistic risk assessments, firewalls and ways to protect critical data and services can’t be overstated. “Business executives have to stop looking at cybersecurity as a technical risk issue,” said Chris Krebs, former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in the Department of Homeland Security, during an interview Sunday on CBS’ Face the Nation. “It truly is a business risk issue, and we are talking about the resilience of the U.S. economy.” What DarkSide did to the pipeline amounts to breaking into your house, stealing your valuables and changing all the locks to keep you out until you relent to its demands. To pay encourages more threats to other companies. Not to pay risks the loss of millions, if not billions, of dollars from a prolonged shutdown. And it’s not like you will get your valuables back, unscathed and with no questions asked. Data breaches usually end up with sensitive financial information being sold and resold on the dark web, creating other opportunities for cybercrime. About 85% of our nation’s critical assets, systems and networks are in private hands, and their incapacitation would have a debilitating effect on national and economic security, public health and safety. Private banks control our financial system. Private electricity providers control the grid. Private railroads and airlines move people, goods and services. And the list goes on. Cyberattacks target the lifeblood of modern capitalism — the seamless digital global networks that encourage convenient commerce with customers and suppliers. When cybercriminals, who may or may not have direct ties to rogue states, leverage the power of computers and internet connectivity to shake down businesses, executives need to elevate cybersecurity on the list of corporate priorities. The precise number of private companies targeted for ransom is difficult to calculate since companies are reluctant to talk about breaches and will pay up if compromised. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas speculated that ransomware losses may be more than $300 million so far this year — up 300% from last year. “The threat is real,” Mayorkas said. “The threat is upon us. The risk is to all of us.” Download 2.09 Mb. Share with your friends:
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