Emergence of New Security Threats in 2024

• Global Concerns: 2024 began with widespread fears of new security challenges, particularly due to advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its various forms like Generative AI and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
• Disinformation and Cyber Threats: The increasing capabilities of AI have made disinformation and cyber threats more prevalent, creating a sense of looming danger across the world.

Security Challenges for the Paris 2024 Olympics

• High-Risk Target: The 33rd Summer Olympic Games in France (July-August 2024) were anticipated to be a major target for digital and cyberattacks.
• Preventive Vigilance: Despite no major incidents occurring, experts stress the importance of maintaining vigilance as new types of digital threats continue to emerge.

Early Indications of a Threatening Year

• Taiwan Elections: The year 2024 saw significant disinformation campaigns during Taiwan''s January elections, with fake posts and videos causing widespread confusion. This was largely attributed to AI-driven efforts, potentially linked to Chinese influence.
• Role of AI in Disinformation: AI has made it easier to create and disseminate disinformation, leading to a miasma of confusion and mistrust, especially during politically sensitive periods.

AI-Enabled Disinformation and Its Consequences

• Deepfakes: AI-generated deepfakes, which involve digitally manipulated videos, audio, or images, have become a major tool for spreading disinformation.
• Delayed Truth Revelation: Often, the truth behind these deepfakes is uncovered only after the damage has been done, highlighting the challenge of countering such disinformation.
• National Security Risks: The spread of AI-enabled disinformation poses a significant threat to national security, as seen in ongoing conflicts like Ukraine, where both sides have used such tactics to disrupt critical infrastructure.

The CrowdStrike Outage: A Preview of Potential Cyber Disruptions

• Global Impact: In 2024, a software glitch in a Microsoft Windows update caused a massive outage that affected various sectors, including flight operations, air traffic, and stock exchanges across multiple countries.
• Not a Cyberattack, But a Warning: While this incident was not a cyberattack, it served as a stark reminder of the potential disruptions that a large-scale cyberattack could cause.

Historical Context of Major Cyberattacks

• WannaCry Ransomware (2017): The WannaCry attack infected over 230,000 computers in 150 countries, causing billions of dollars in damage.
• Shamoon Virus (2017): Targeted oil companies like Saudi Aramco and RasGas, labeled as the “biggest hack in history” at the time.
• Petya Malware (2017): Severely affected banks, power grids, and institutions across Europe, the UK, the US, and Australia.
• Stuxnet Attack (2010): A malicious worm targeting Iran’s nuclear program, Stuxnet highlighted the potential of state-sponsored cyber warfare. Its design could be adapted to target other modern systems.

Growing Cyber Threats to Individuals and Businesses

• Daily Cyber Threats: Cyber fraud, hacking, and identity theft have seen exponential growth, threatening the daily lives of individuals.
• Common Cyber Frauds:

• Phishing: Involves stealing personal information like customer IDs, credit/debit card numbers, and PINs.
• Spamming: Sending unsolicited commercial messages.
• Identity Theft: A serious and widespread danger, often resulting in significant personal and financial loss.

Response from Governments and Industry

• Government Measures: Democratic governments are increasingly trying to implement systems to combat digital threats.
• Industry Vulnerability: Despite government efforts, private institutions and businesses are lagging in preparedness, making them vulnerable to attacks.
• Need for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs): Most companies lack adequate leadership to handle digital threats, making the role of CISOs crucial for advising and protecting businesses.

Necessity for Increased Awareness and Preparedness

• Growing Danger of Digital Threats: Awareness about the increasing digital threats, including unauthorized use of Generative AI content, is the first step toward combating them.
• Need for Coordinated Action: The struggle against digital threats requires coordinated efforts across governments, businesses, and society.
• Protecting Democracies: Democracies, in particular, need to be vigilant against digital surveillance, disinformation, bullying, and manipulation, as these new threats target the core of democratic systems.