Cybersecurity is Essential to the Infrastructure of the World

As the world becomes modernized, with the ever increasing usage of the Internet and the growing infrastructure that is dependent on cybersecurity, the security of the Internet, is key for the protection of daily life. As the necessary functions of daily life require a growing need for an Internet connection, security must always be an important factor in keeping the production and development of essential goods secure. With the recent hackings in the Colonial Pipeline, which fuels oil to multiple states across the East Coast of the United States, it has become apparent that cybersecurity is an important factor not only in domestic cases, but international cases regarding terrorism and global overall security.

In the growing modern era, the usage of terrorist activities being remotely activated and done overseas without laying a finger in overseas territories gives increased risk for national security. With the hacking of a water treatment plant in Florida being done remotely and viciously, struggling to allow over 50,000 people access to water, more security needs need to be brought up to the light. After the 2008 financial crisis, the federal government expanded regulations on security on essential infrastructure across the country, yet no timeline was set on when the basic firewalls and security needed to be implemented. In the Florida hackings, the company running the water said it had the necessary security to comply with federal regulations, but it was not implemented yet in the mainframe of the computers running the water supply.

When Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina in 2018, many people in North Carolina lost water and light during the storm, yet after the storm had passed, the mainframe for the water was hacked, locking out employees and creating a ransom for the company. This was the second time in a year that the water in North Carolina was hacked. They are now building their mainframe by scratch.

The international aspect of the hackings relate to the increasing disputes in foreign policy. For example, if one country has territorial disputes with another and wants to show dominance over the area, the country can hack and turn off essential services in the region in order to try and show that they own it. In ever growing tensions in Asia between China and India over the region of Kashmir, China has launched its own cybersecurity efforts in order to show dominance against India. In fall 2020, the power went out in the city of Mumbai, with over 20 million people losing power. After investigation, the people behind this attack were based in China. In the summer of 2020, there were clashes and immense fighting on the border in the Kashmir region they both claim to. The Chinese were also putting malware inside of the basic infrastructure mainframe across India. In this effort, the sole hands of the basic necessities in one of the biggest countries in the world is in the hands of one of its enemies, solely based on the tension on the border they so ever grow in chances of winning. In diplomatic cases and war cases, the development of this new way of fighting is not to cause casualties, even though some are going to occur, but to establish the creation and hold of power that is now in the hands of a foreign state. In 2015, Ukraine was hacked twice by Russian hackers, turning off electricity in multiple regions in Ukraine to over 200,000 people. These hackings were at the height of the protests and riots in Kiev, the capital city and the subsequent invasion by Russia in Crimea and surrounding regions. There is a history of hackings in Ukraine and surrounding regions that are connected to Russia and support the political sides of the Russian government.

Cybersecurity has developed alongside the creation and expansion of the Internet. As the global network expands in usage, with more people using these necessary functions, and the longer it has been out, more sophistication and knowledge is growing in order to be able to use the full capabilities of the Internet. The direct relations to the usage of these essential services by citizens of every country and the ease of restrictions by hackings. These attacks represent a growing category of hacks intended to sabotage critical infrastructure. International norms and laws to address nation-state sponsored hacking are in their infancy and investigators are rarely able to trace hacks back to individuals. Countries should be addressing these hackings and taking them seriously. When the attacks of 9/12 occurred, departments such as the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security were created in order to protect the people of the United States. As Biden has taken office, he has started showing interest in protecting the infrastructure of the country through the security in the digital age. The departments that have been made to protect the people of this country should be extended to these hackings, including bringing in the TSA to protect our water and electric supply and the Department of Homeland Security to work in conjunction with the security and maintaining the security of the necessary infrastructure.

The development of cybersecurity on our basic infrastructure is essential to the national security and the overall security of nations around the world. As well, the increase in terrorism related attacks motivated by diplomatic tensions and ongoing actions by countries allow for an increase in attacks and more risks to the livelihood of citizens around the world. The basic human rights lost with no water or electricity in these attacks can cause international tensions and affect every country, no matter the wealth or size.

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