Microsoft has called on governments all over the world to make a ‘digital Geneva Convention’ as a way of normalizing international cyber security rules and protect civilian use of the web. This is particularly relevant to future custom software development projects that would be undertaken. Brad Smith, Microsoft President and also the chief legal officer, addressed the issue at the yearly RSA conference earlier held this week in San Francisco, states that governments, with the help of technology organizations in the role of non-government organizations have to establish international rules for protection of civilians from cyber threats during peace time.
The technology sector plays a one-of-a-kind role as the first responders of the internet, and the technology people should commit themselves to collective action, which would help in making the web a safer place, affirming a role as a neutral Switzerland, which helps customers all over and retains the trust of the world. Seventy-four percent of the businesses in the world expect to be hacked each year, with the economic losses from cybercrime, which averages $3 trillion a year, that’s according to Microsoft. Historically, cyber-attacks have focused on economic and military espionage, Smith noted.
Microsoft spends over $1 billion a year fighting cyber security threats, Smith stated, mainly to guard from phishing schemes launched through email. In response to the growing nation-state attacks, Microsoft since last summer has taken down 60 domains in 49 countries, spread out across six continents. Officials from 20 countries all over the world in 2015 recomm3ended cyber security norms in the software development cycle for nation-states designed to promote a secure, open, stable, peaceful and accessible information and communications technology environment. The United States in China in that year have reached an agreement to refrain from supporting or doing cyber-enabled intellectual property theft. Later, the group of 20 affirmed the same principle. Microsoft has coordinated with rival companies, including Amazon and Google, to fight cloud abuse, including spam and phishing websites.
Microsoft isn’t alone in the promotion of cyber-security cooperation among governments. Earlier this year, the Electronic Privacy Information announced new Cyber security and democracy project, which is designed to address the growing alarm on the impact of cyber-attacks on democratic institutions. The organization has urged the United States congress to upgrade federal data protection laws, and to establish data protection agency that’s designed to address the growing risks of identity theft as well as data breaches, stated the EPIC executive director Marc Rotenberg. Increasingly, there is a closer connection between cyber security and the protection of democratic organizations. EPIC is pursuing open government cases and engagement with experts.
The company has filed two Freedom of Information Act requests in connection the presidential election in 2016, when the government of Russia undertook a campaign to influence the outcome of the now President Donald Trump’s favor, based on the findings of all major US intelligence agencies. The effort of Microsoft promotes a global body language, but in scope, will be very limited to make a lot of dent in the cyber security issue. What is required is a worldwide cyber security strategy, which leverages the power of public-private partnerships. The effort could disrupt, degrade as well as deny the ability of cyber criminals for leveraging their attacks.
As a worldwide tech sector, Microsoft felt the need to come together rand sign their own pledge in conjunction with the places in the world. It aims to protect customers, concentrate on defense, and coordinate with one another and to provide patches to all customers anywhere, despite the attacks they face, and it aims to do its part to address the needs of the world. Smith also urged attendees to call on governments for adopting a pledge or treaty, which will enshrine the safety and rights of civilians during a cyber-attack. A new convention of cyber-attacks from nation states have to focus on preventing attacks against civilians during peace times.
The concern of Smith is rooted in the fast expansion of cyber-attacks, in scope and severity. Cyber-attacks move from enthusiast to financial thieves to countries all over the world. Taking strong positions on concerns of national interest is nothing new for Microsoft. Smith observed that as warfare moves into cyberspace, this creates new issues not seen in other theaters of conflict, such as airspace or oceans. For one thing, cyberspace exists everywhere, between servers, computers, and phones carried by just about each living human being. Also, Smith pointed out that cyberspace is privately owned. In terms of these attacks, Microsoft is the plane of battle and the first responders in the world rather than nation state attacks met by other nation states, they’re being met by Microsoft. Smith highlighted the relevance of the immigrant community in the technology industry, a reference to the controversial travel ban of President Trump that’s targete4d at seven major Muslim countries.
The technology sector plays a one-of-a-kind role as the first responders of the internet, and the technology people should commit themselves to collective action, which would help in making the web a safer place, affirming a role as a neutral Switzerland, which helps customers all over and retains the trust of the world. Seventy-four percent of the businesses in the world expect to be hacked each year, with the economic losses from cybercrime, which averages $3 trillion a year, that’s according to Microsoft. Historically, cyber-attacks have focused on economic and military espionage, Smith noted.
Microsoft spends over $1 billion a year fighting cyber security threats, Smith stated, mainly to guard from phishing schemes launched through email. In response to the growing nation-state attacks, Microsoft since last summer has taken down 60 domains in 49 countries, spread out across six continents. Officials from 20 countries all over the world in 2015 recomm3ended cyber security norms in the software development cycle for nation-states designed to promote a secure, open, stable, peaceful and accessible information and communications technology environment. The United States in China in that year have reached an agreement to refrain from supporting or doing cyber-enabled intellectual property theft. Later, the group of 20 affirmed the same principle. Microsoft has coordinated with rival companies, including Amazon and Google, to fight cloud abuse, including spam and phishing websites.
Microsoft isn’t alone in the promotion of cyber-security cooperation among governments. Earlier this year, the Electronic Privacy Information announced new Cyber security and democracy project, which is designed to address the growing alarm on the impact of cyber-attacks on democratic institutions. The organization has urged the United States congress to upgrade federal data protection laws, and to establish data protection agency that’s designed to address the growing risks of identity theft as well as data breaches, stated the EPIC executive director Marc Rotenberg. Increasingly, there is a closer connection between cyber security and the protection of democratic organizations. EPIC is pursuing open government cases and engagement with experts.
The company has filed two Freedom of Information Act requests in connection the presidential election in 2016, when the government of Russia undertook a campaign to influence the outcome of the now President Donald Trump’s favor, based on the findings of all major US intelligence agencies. The effort of Microsoft promotes a global body language, but in scope, will be very limited to make a lot of dent in the cyber security issue. What is required is a worldwide cyber security strategy, which leverages the power of public-private partnerships. The effort could disrupt, degrade as well as deny the ability of cyber criminals for leveraging their attacks.
As a worldwide tech sector, Microsoft felt the need to come together rand sign their own pledge in conjunction with the places in the world. It aims to protect customers, concentrate on defense, and coordinate with one another and to provide patches to all customers anywhere, despite the attacks they face, and it aims to do its part to address the needs of the world. Smith also urged attendees to call on governments for adopting a pledge or treaty, which will enshrine the safety and rights of civilians during a cyber-attack. A new convention of cyber-attacks from nation states have to focus on preventing attacks against civilians during peace times.
The concern of Smith is rooted in the fast expansion of cyber-attacks, in scope and severity. Cyber-attacks move from enthusiast to financial thieves to countries all over the world. Taking strong positions on concerns of national interest is nothing new for Microsoft. Smith observed that as warfare moves into cyberspace, this creates new issues not seen in other theaters of conflict, such as airspace or oceans. For one thing, cyberspace exists everywhere, between servers, computers, and phones carried by just about each living human being. Also, Smith pointed out that cyberspace is privately owned. In terms of these attacks, Microsoft is the plane of battle and the first responders in the world rather than nation state attacks met by other nation states, they’re being met by Microsoft. Smith highlighted the relevance of the immigrant community in the technology industry, a reference to the controversial travel ban of President Trump that’s targete4d at seven major Muslim countries.