Future World: The Threat of Cyberattacks in a Hyperconnected Society

By: Mariano López de Miguel (15/10/2021).

Since the introduction of the World Wide Web in homes at the end of 1995, the Internet has evolved geometrically, leading the world to a state of hyperconnectivity called by renowned futurologists, such as Herman Kahn or Marshall McLuhan, as “The Global Village”. However, these societies are not without risk: From the arrival of information highways to the dangers based on cyberattacks, they have transformed the social, political and defense culture on how to act in the face of these attacks. Since 2016, cyberattacks have multiplied by hundreds, thus demonstrating the fragility of the planet in the face of an enemy that does not necessarily have a physical presence, and that acquires an advantage due to the opportunity offered by anonymity. Undoubtedly, the world is facing a new battlefield within the so-called irregular wars or asymmetric conflicts.