At the Cyber Security Summit in Tashkent, Aloysius Cheang, Huawei’s president of Cybersecurity & Privacy Protection and chief security officer for the Middle East and Central Asia, emphasized the growing dangers of cyberattacks, stating that “cybersecurity is no longer a weapon of mass disruption but of mass destruction, because it can kill lives.”
Cheang highlighted that the industry’s failure to address the root causes of cyber threats has exacerbated the situation. “Despite how much money, investment that we have done, it never solved the problem. We are still solving the problem 30 years back,” he said. “You’re not hitting the target at the red eye… you defined the problem statement wrongly,” he added, calling for a more precise and comprehensive approach to cybersecurity.
One of the most critical vulnerabilities, he explained, lies in supply chain security. Citing a recent pager attack in Lebanon as an example, he noted, “What supposedly the perpetrators have done is to attack the supply chain, right? At the production phase, they have imbued the back door in the product, that can be remotely triggered.” Such infiltration poses serious risks, especially to critical infrastructure, which can be compromised before it even reaches the consumer.
Cheang’s remarks underscore the urgent need for global collaboration to tackle the evolving cyber threats. By addressing vulnerabilities in the supply chain and redefining the approach to cybersecurity, industries and governments can better protect critical infrastructure and safeguard lives.
Reference(s):
Cyber wars and global collaboration: Huawei executive on cybersecurity
cgtn.com
