For the past two years, people have struggled with the coronavirus pandemic, and part of that has entailed experiencing the benefits and challenges of cyberspace.
In terms of challenges, we have experienced a great number of new incidents caused by the abuse and misuse of cyberspace. For one, ransomware attacks created by combining conventional cyberattacks – malicious email attachments – with cryptocurrency, inflicted significant damage to vital infrastructure, including medical institutions hit by COVID-19 and energy suppliers.
The attacks proved extremely effective against lifeline infrastructure such as Colonial Pipeline Co., the operator of the largest fuel conduit system in the United States, and vaccine production.