The growing threat of cyber wars...
Could the devices we use every day, such as mobile phones and televisions, also be turned into deadly weapons by foreign entities?
Published: 03:09 PM,Sep 23,2024 | EDITED : 07:09 PM,Sep 23,2024
We are not used to witnessing the deadly consequences of cyber warfare unfolding before our eyes, especially through the devices we use daily. However, the impact of these wars is no longer confined to mere disruption of military and economic systems. We recently saw a deadly cyber-attack that targeted Hezbollah in Lebanon, resulting in the loss of innocent lives, including children, and injuring thousands.
On Tuesday (September 17), a cyber-attack targeted Hezbollah’s wireless communication devices, which had been considered more secure than mobile phones. These devices, however, were compromised, resulting in explosions that killed 12 people, including children, and wounded over 3,000 others. The following day, additional explosions killed over 20 more people.
Initial theories suggested that the Israeli entity was responsible for the breach, leading to device malfunctions and the overheating of batteries. However, further investigation revealed a more sinister plan: small explosive devices had been placed inside the communication equipment, programmed to detonate via cyber manipulation.
Hezbollah disclosed that they had acquired these devices several months ago, confirming that the attackers had used a combination of cyber tactics and traditional explosives to carry out the attack. This event, which can be seen as a form of psychological warfare, demonstrated an alarming shift in how cyber warfare can directly cause death and destruction.
With this recent attack, many are left wondering: could the devices we use every day, such as mobile phones and televisions, also be turned into deadly weapons by foreign entities? Are they simply waiting for the right moment to carry out similar attacks?
We have already witnessed cyber-attacks in various forms, including the infamous digital viruses used by the Zionist entity to target Iran's nuclear facilities. While such attacks have primarily caused economic damage, the events in Lebanon highlight a shift in the use of cyber warfare. The combination of intelligence operations and cyber manipulation now appears to be a new method of causing mass casualties.
This leads us to question the future. What kind of deadly cyber-attacks could be on the horizon, and what technology might be used in ways we have yet to imagine?
While we cannot predict the future with certainty, history teaches us that technological advancements are often kept hidden until their military applications are fully exhausted. For example, the Internet, developed in the 1960s, was primarily used by the US military until it became available to the public in the 1990s. The same pattern applies to the Global Positioning System (GPS), which was also initially restricted to military use.
Artificial intelligence, which has recently gained widespread attention, was similarly monopolised by military institutions before being introduced to the public. These historical examples remind us that many of the technologies we use today were first tested and developed in secret for military purposes. This raises important questions about the unknown technological advancements currently under development, which could be used in future cyber-attacks.
As these dangers loom, we must reflect on our region's vulnerability. Our reliance on imported technology has left us exposed to these threats. The solution lies in achieving scientific independence. We must develop our own technologies and safeguard them from foreign manipulation.
This is a call for a scientific revolution, one that will enable us to protect our region from the technological traps set by others. Without such a revolution, we will continue to face the risks posed by cyber warfare, as our dependence on external technologies deepens.
In an article written by me and published in the Oman newspaper, entitled 'Reflections on the Trial of the Arab Mind,' I addressed the need for intellectual independence. The current cyber warfare threats further emphasise the urgency of this issue. We must develop the capacity to create and control our technologies to ensure our security and independence.
Until the Arab mind awakens and rises to meet these challenges, we must approach imported technologies with caution and vigilance. Data security and the integrity of our electronic systems must be prioritised.
In conclusion, the recent cyber-attacks remind us of the critical need for technological independence. We must build our own systems, develop our own expertise, and protect our region from the cyber and technological threats that are sure to become more dangerous in the future. Let this be a wake-up call for a region that must rise to meet the challenges of the modern age.
(The original version of this article was published in Arabic in the print edition of Oman newspaper on September 22 and is translated by Badr al Dhafari)
Dr Muammar al Tobi
The writer is an Omani academic and researcher
On Tuesday (September 17), a cyber-attack targeted Hezbollah’s wireless communication devices, which had been considered more secure than mobile phones. These devices, however, were compromised, resulting in explosions that killed 12 people, including children, and wounded over 3,000 others. The following day, additional explosions killed over 20 more people.
Initial theories suggested that the Israeli entity was responsible for the breach, leading to device malfunctions and the overheating of batteries. However, further investigation revealed a more sinister plan: small explosive devices had been placed inside the communication equipment, programmed to detonate via cyber manipulation.
Hezbollah disclosed that they had acquired these devices several months ago, confirming that the attackers had used a combination of cyber tactics and traditional explosives to carry out the attack. This event, which can be seen as a form of psychological warfare, demonstrated an alarming shift in how cyber warfare can directly cause death and destruction.
With this recent attack, many are left wondering: could the devices we use every day, such as mobile phones and televisions, also be turned into deadly weapons by foreign entities? Are they simply waiting for the right moment to carry out similar attacks?
We have already witnessed cyber-attacks in various forms, including the infamous digital viruses used by the Zionist entity to target Iran's nuclear facilities. While such attacks have primarily caused economic damage, the events in Lebanon highlight a shift in the use of cyber warfare. The combination of intelligence operations and cyber manipulation now appears to be a new method of causing mass casualties.
This leads us to question the future. What kind of deadly cyber-attacks could be on the horizon, and what technology might be used in ways we have yet to imagine?
While we cannot predict the future with certainty, history teaches us that technological advancements are often kept hidden until their military applications are fully exhausted. For example, the Internet, developed in the 1960s, was primarily used by the US military until it became available to the public in the 1990s. The same pattern applies to the Global Positioning System (GPS), which was also initially restricted to military use.
Artificial intelligence, which has recently gained widespread attention, was similarly monopolised by military institutions before being introduced to the public. These historical examples remind us that many of the technologies we use today were first tested and developed in secret for military purposes. This raises important questions about the unknown technological advancements currently under development, which could be used in future cyber-attacks.
As these dangers loom, we must reflect on our region's vulnerability. Our reliance on imported technology has left us exposed to these threats. The solution lies in achieving scientific independence. We must develop our own technologies and safeguard them from foreign manipulation.
This is a call for a scientific revolution, one that will enable us to protect our region from the technological traps set by others. Without such a revolution, we will continue to face the risks posed by cyber warfare, as our dependence on external technologies deepens.
In an article written by me and published in the Oman newspaper, entitled 'Reflections on the Trial of the Arab Mind,' I addressed the need for intellectual independence. The current cyber warfare threats further emphasise the urgency of this issue. We must develop the capacity to create and control our technologies to ensure our security and independence.
Until the Arab mind awakens and rises to meet these challenges, we must approach imported technologies with caution and vigilance. Data security and the integrity of our electronic systems must be prioritised.
In conclusion, the recent cyber-attacks remind us of the critical need for technological independence. We must build our own systems, develop our own expertise, and protect our region from the cyber and technological threats that are sure to become more dangerous in the future. Let this be a wake-up call for a region that must rise to meet the challenges of the modern age.
(The original version of this article was published in Arabic in the print edition of Oman newspaper on September 22 and is translated by Badr al Dhafari)
Dr Muammar al Tobi
The writer is an Omani academic and researcher