EGP declines vs. USD at Thursday's close    Euro area inflation rises to 2.0% in October '24 – flash estimates    IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE WHO SMOKES, GIVE THEM THE FACTS    Asian stocks slide as chip sector weakens    Egypt's Minister of Environment highlights biodiversity issues at COP16    Egypt's Agriculture Minister meets Syrian, Bahraini counterparts to boost cooperation in Amman    Al-Qassam Brigades targets Israeli vehicles in eastern Gaza    ACUD, DP World, and GAFI sign MoU to develop free zone in New Capital    Egyptian government encourages increased mutual investment with Bahrain: Finance Minister    A Tale of Two Cities: Alexandria hosts 2nd edition of exhibition celebrating Greek, Egyptian cultural ties    Egypt, Djibouti leaders discuss strengthening ties, regional issues    Egypt's FM affirms commitment to Sahel security, offers support to Niger    Egyptian banking sector support underprivileged communities in Alexandria – CBE    Afghanistan signs $163m deal for cement plant    US tightens tech investment rules for China    Biden unveils $3b investment to strengthen US port infrastructure    Military Production, Environment Ministers inaugurate banana fiber recycling plant    Luxor Museum to host exhibition on 19th century antiquities inspection tours    Nourhan Kamal Wins 2024 Helmi Sharawy Award for African Studies    Egypt observes Intl. E-waste Day, highlights recycling efforts    Egypt's military capabilities sufficient to defend country: Al-Sisi    Al-Sisi emphasises water security is Egypt's top priority amid Nile River concerns    Cairo Opera House hosts grand opening of Arab Music Festival, Conference    Grand Egyptian Museum ready for partial trial run on October 16: PM    Colombia unveils $40b investment plan for climate transition    Kabaddi: Ancient Indian sport gaining popularity in Egypt    Ecuador's drought forces further power cuts    Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul after Paris Olympics    Basketball Africa League Future Pros returns for 2nd season    Egypt joins Africa's FEDA    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Paris Olympics opening draws record viewers    Who leads the economic portfolios in Egypt's new Cabinet?    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Cyberattacks threaten developing countries
Published in Bikya Masr on 12 - 12 - 2011

Developing countries are at higher risk of being the target of cyberattacks, a United Nations-led forum on cybersecurity heard today, where experts discussed ways to mitigate this phenomenon at the national and international levels.“The economic impact and consequences of cyberattacks against critical physical infrastructure, the banking system, national health systems, essential government and industry databanks and services could be extremely high,” said Lazarous Kapambwe, President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), in his opening remarks at the Special Event on Cybersecurity and Development that was held at UN Headquarters.
Kapambwe stressed that because of the ubiquity of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in everyday life, the impact of cyberattacks is magnified, and appropriate measures to prevent them must be put into place.
“Cyberattacks have the potential for triggering inter-State and other conflicts which can put the entire development process at considerable risk. Developing countries, with relatively weak surveillance capacity are most vulnerable to such cyberattacks,” he said.
According to the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU), there are six billion mobile cellular subscriptions worldwide and more than 2.3 billion people online, making ICTs a powerful tool to advance development.
Developing countries are using ICTs to advance their development agenda, Kapambwe said, “because of their relevance in transforming human activities and in presenting new opportunities for economic growth.
“Mobile phones and the Internet have had beneficial impacts on supporting the livelihoods of rural people, particularly farmers in Asia. In Africa, mobile phones are the most widely-used form of communications technology,” he said.
However, their use exposes users to a myriad of risks, and the “full benefits of the digital age” will not be reaped if cybercrime is left unaddressed, he said.
“Governments, the private sector and civil society, must all work to improve cybersecurity,” he said, emphasizing that they need to work in conjunction because of the cross-border nature of the issue.
Among those participating in the forum were ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré and the Chair of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Fortunato de la Peña, who set the stage for a panel discussion addressing the topic of building an international framework to combat cybercrime and improve cybersecurity.
Touré underscored the huge toll that cybercrime takes on the global economy through online fraud, identity theft and lost intellectual property.
“In the 21st century, we are absolutely dependent on ICT networks,” he said. “We are all vulnerable.”
He echoed Kapambwe's remarks, saying cybersecurity should be of particular concern for developing countries, pointing out that some of the States with the most cyberattacks include Brazil, China, India and Russia, all emerging economies.
ITU currently has a programme in conjunction with the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats (IMPACT) which provides expertise, facilities and resources to countries to prevent, defend against and respond to cyberthreats.
Last week, the ITU-IMPACT Alliance carried out a cyberdrill which involved testing the response technologies of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam.
In addition, the ITU has established a partnership with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to assist Member States in mitigating the risks posed by cybersecurity and cybercrime through activities such as joint workshops, capacity building, and knowledge-sharing.
BM
ShortURL: http://goo.gl/wjMPq
Tags: Cyberattacks, Developing World, Internet, United Nations
Section: Latest News, Tech


Clic here to read the story from its source.