Source: UN News: Thursday, 07 May 2026 00:01 AM
Today, about 70% of the world’s population, i.e. about 5.5 billion people, use the Internet, that is, they are online. The Internet is very important to their lives because all the vital systems of the world, from healthcare to financial markets, and from public services to elections, rest on the delicate digital network called the Internet and this network has now reached almost every corner of the world. But cyber attacks have also created huge challenges. There is no doubt that the Internet, which connects the world first through wires and now through wireless means, has countless benefits, but its use is not without risks. Recent history is witness to the fact that even a small mistake or mistake can cause global devastation. Remember what happened in the year 2017 NotPetyaThe cyber attack, which began with a small company in Ukraine, ultimately caused losses of more than $10 billion to global businesses. In the same year i.e. 2017, the WannaCry-cyber attack on Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) initially appeared small, but it completely paralyzed the NHS before spreading to 150 countries. And in the year 2022, when there was a cyber attack on the Red Cross Red Crescent (ICRC), it put the sensitive information about more than 5 lakh people around the world at risk. Experts from the Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) have warned that the era of only technical reforms is over. As attacks involving government involvement on global infrastructure increase, cybercrime is becoming an epidemic. The damage caused by these attacks has reached several trillion dollars. Now the focus has shifted from “cyber security” to “cyber resilience”. This means the collective ability of societies to adapt and recover from successful cyber attacks. © UN Women India Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu joins UNWomen’s campaign in India to stop digital violence against women and girls. The need for solidarity across fractures Businesses and governments undoubtedly recognize the urgent need for global cooperation, but a number of “rifts” are hindering global action: Geopolitical tensions: Two-thirds of organizations now cite politics as the biggest influence on their cyber strategy. Rule of thumb: Three-quarters of security officials say conflicting global rules, regulations and guidelines complicate compliance efforts. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) – A Weak Link: Small businesses are twice as likely to lack resilience as larger institutions, yet they are an integral part of the global supply chains we all depend on. Emerging Threats: In 2026, there are growing concerns over sophisticated generative AI attacks, while quantum computing threatens to breach existing encryption shields. Cyber Fulfilling commitments to strengthen The UN Security Council has been repeatedly briefed on the threat that cyber attacks pose to international peace, indicating that no single state can manage these risks alone. To bridge these gaps, international institutions are moving to concretely implement 11 UN standards set for responsible state behavior. Key Initiatives ‘Global Contact Directory’‘, which creates secure communication channels to reduce pressure and tension during events. In addition, the United Nations’ ‘Global System on Security in Information and Communications Technology’ will soon be launched. This permanent platform aims to set standards for the protection of critical infrastructure and share technical capabilities. To build a resilient future, it is essential to bring together industry and academia as steering partners. The global community, by sharing knowledge through forums such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Geneva Cyber Week, is striving to ensure that the digital infrastructure that underpins modern life remains intact amid increasingly complex threats.