Cyber-security and humanitarian experts need to talk

Humanitarians should be more alert to cyber threats, Rahel Dette argued at a conference on Cyberwar and Cyberpeace by the Federation of German Scientists on October 24. She advanced two main points. First, gaps in digital security practices could cause serious harm if sensitive information on aid recipients were compromised. Second, an increase in code-based attacks on critical infrastructure worldwide could have devastating humanitarian implications. More exchange between humanitarians and IT experts can improve preparedness and mitigate harm, Dette suggested.