Cyberwarfare / Nation-State Attacks , Fraud Management & Cybercrime , Video
Warning: Russia and China Target Cybersecurity Weak Points
Black Hat Creator Jeff Moss Talks Geopolitics, Information Sharing, Defining AI
The cybersecurity community faces two near-term geopolitical challenges, according to Jeff Moss, founder and creator of the Black Hat and DEF CON conferences. First, more countries than ever before in history are set to hold major elections next year, and adversaries' misinformation and disinformation campaigns will likely go into overdrive.
See Also: Gartner Guide for Digital Forensics and Incident Response
Next, he said, China wants to be ready to conquer Taiwan by 2027, and many think Beijing will use an "everywhere, everything, all at once" strategy, unleashing cyberattacks on multiple fronts to tie up defenders, disrupt critical infrastructure, run information operations and buy time for its invasion force to succeed.
Cue the challenges for cybersecurity defenders: "The adversary - whether you're Russia trying to meddle in the election or China trying to slow things down or sway public opinion - is really smart. They pick the most difficult nexuses," such as targeting free speech in America, "and the government is very hesitant to try to dictate speech legally. Many times it can't."
In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at Black Hat Europe 2023 in London, Moss also discussed:
- Why information sharing between the public and private sectors has become "critical";
- What we mean when we say "artificial intelligence" and why it's important to be more specific for many use cases, such as crafting policy or building technology;
- Why "an engineering mindset" needs to replace the cybersecurity field's overuse of "the language of war."
Moss advises companies on security issues - both electronic and physical - to help enterprises make more informed decisions on cyber risks. He serves on cybersecurity advisory boards for both the U.S. and U.K. governments. Previously, he served as a commissioner for the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace and a technical consultant to the television show "Mr. Robot."
