Happy New Year!
This story is on all the major news outlets as it should be. Honestly at this point the depth to which these breaches are impacting critical systems and agencies is embarrassing.
Are you embarrassed? Well you should be.
This issue is something I talk about and write about quite often. The psychological impact of threat from cyberspace is not fully developed in the minds and bodies of the older generations (Boomer, X, and yes millennial). The issue in my opinion is that we (millennial here) did not grow up with access to cyberspace. It slowly worked its way into our lives and we have adapted, but we were not born to it (think Bane's reference to the darkness).
Threat to the older generations is still largely based on evolution and centers primarily on physical scope of influence. We understand violence, war, theft, natural disaster etc.. but cyber? We just don't yet fully conceptualize how we are supposed to feel about it.
For example during the Cold War the Soviet Union struck fear into the hearts of Americans by launching Sputnik....why did this cause such a national emotional response? Because we knew that the rocket used to put Sputnik in space could land a nuclear warhead anywhere on earth...and that was terrifying.
Ok, that's different Ross (you may be thinking). Is it? Yes the physical threat of violent death is terrifying as it should be. However, how much death and destruction could be created by crashing all telecoms for 6 months? Crashing power delivery systems? Destroying water pumping stations?
Trigger Warning
See how those scenarios make you feel? Little to nothing? I know I know, I am a millennial, who works in this field and I don't feel that threat in my body the way I would if I was face down in a bank with a boot on my back and an AK on my head.....
Let me be incredibly clear though. Threat from cyberspace is the new Cold War. The devastation, chaos and yes death that can be caused by keystrokes is mind blowing.
Don't believe me? I will leave you with two thoughts:
How many people are dead because of the lockdowns and subsequent societal and logistical disruption caused by the worldwide response to COVID-19?
How easy do you think it is to cause similar or worse living conditions/logistical chaos with a keyboard?
Like I said, Happy New Year!
