Cyberattacks: The new weapon

EDITORS DESKS

In the past, warfare was primarily conducted on the physical battlefield, where soldiers fought with guns, tanks, and aircraft. However, there has been a shift to the digital battlefield in recent years, where cyberattacks are now an integral part of modern warfare.

Several factors, including the increasing reliance on technology in all aspects of warfare, the growing sophistication of cyber weapons, and the increasing connectivity of the world, have driven this shift.

As a result, countries are investing heavily in their cyber capabilities, and cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common. Some experts believe that cyberattacks could soon become the primary weapon of war.

The shift to the digital battlefield is a significant trend that will profoundly impact warfare in the future. It is important for countries to understand this trend's implications and develop strategies to address its challenges.

The shifting of the battleground from physical to digital is alarming. While other countries are preparing for the worst and investing heavily in cybersecurity solutions, the Philippines has removed the confidential fund of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

The DICT is mandated to provide proactive government countermeasures to address and anticipate all domestic and transnational incidents affecting Philippine cyberspace and any cybersecurity threats to the country. While giving confidential funds to civilian agencies is a big debate, giving the DICT zero budget for confidential use could put the country's cybersecurity at risk, hurting national security, the economy, and the protection of sensitive information.

The nature of cybersecurity is such that the tools required to protect against threats are often sophisticated and costly and may not be applicable to procurement through standard bidding processes due to their sensitive nature. To effectively counteract the rapid evolution of cyber threats, the DICT must be agile, with the capacity to quickly acquire the latest cybersecurity tools. Openly disclosing the specifics about these tools, the equipment, and the services involved could inadvertently expose critical details about a country's intelligence capabilities or operations. Furthermore, there may be instances where cutting-edge solutions necessary for strengthening the country's cyber defenses are not available on the commercial market, necessitating a confidential fund to procure such advanced and specialized equipment or technology. The use of confidential funds is not only strategic but essential for the DICT to fulfil its mandate of protecting the country’s digital infrastructure.

However, using confidential funds must be subject to strict oversight and accountability mechanisms. To avoid misuse, the DICT must have a clear and justifiable reason for using confidential funds, and the use of these funds must be reported to the appropriate government oversight groups.

(Art Samaniego, Jr. is the head of Manila Bulletin IT Department and is the editor of Technews.)