National security and the challenges of the digital age

Abstract

Digital technologies, in addition to the many benefits they provide to humanity, are increasingly becoming a tool in the hands of cybercriminals. Cyberspace can no longer be considered a place where Internet users can feel safe while performing their activities, such as communicating with other virtual members, searching for information, doing business or searching for entertainment content. Many sources of information cannot be considered credible, but unfortunately a large percentage of the population, due to insufficient levels of digital literacy, cannot recognize this. There are countless examples in which cyber attackers harm gullible people, most often through social networks, causing them material and emotional damage. In some other cases, such attacks in a cyber environment can take much more complex forms and damage even the states themselves. As in the case of traditional terrorism in the real world, cyber terrorism has the same motives, to provoke fear in one part of the population, in order to put pressure on the government to meet their conditions. However, unlike traditional terrorism, instead of weapons, cyber terrorism uses digital tools to spread propaganda, recruit ideological like-minded people or organize terrorist attacks. In more serious cases, cyber terrorists can also threaten the critical infrastructure of the state, which directly affects national security. The costs of such cyber action are low, so that even after one failed attempt, the attackers do not lose motivation to try again. The hackers' adaptability to technological innovations and updates is at an enviable level, which must be an alarm that will force governments to cooperate with each other and regularly improve cyber security strategies and thus protect their population, critical infrastructure and economic development.