Cybersecurity in Latin American and the Caribbean: An Unmet Agenda Johanna Mendelson - VOXXI
go to original May 8, 2013

Anonymous is a “hacktivist” collective, probably more of a distantly connected network than a tight-knit organization. (Shutterstock)

For all of us who rely on the internet and our smart phones to run our lives it is hard to believe that we face a constant threat in cyberspace that could shut down our Facebook page, our Tweets or bank accounts. Yet protecting cyberspace from criminals and other rouge hackers has not been a primary focus of government agencies in Latin America.

A new report released by the Organization of American States Secretariat on Multidimensional Security and Trend Micro, a private company, reveals that cyber-threats in the Americas are on the rise. Around the hemisphere the 32 OAS member states surveyed noted an increase in cyber attacks that included “hacktivism,” or politically motivated hacking; internet assisted money laundering; and attacks on critical infrastructure. Malware, spam and wire fraud were also frequently coming from countries in the Americas.

In a region where citizen security is often measured in terms of the level of physical violence, there is also another underreported crime network that is disrupting commerce, stealing resources, and is often under-reported because the institutions attacked would rather not reveal their vulnerability. This is especially true in the financial sector.

Read the rest at VOXXI

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