BotNet News

We take for granted that we live in an increasingly cyber-dependent world. But the internet is still a relatively young technology, and many of us can clearly recall when there was no public internet, email, or Facebook (although government and military computers used an early form of the internet as far back as the 1970s). So it’s quite remarkable that, within a very short time span, cyberattacks have become more sophisticated and the threat to our security has grown exponentially.

This week, AT&T says hackers wiped out call and text records for “nearly all” its customers; CDK Global is hit with a data breach that could leave thousands of car dealerships unable to process sales; the Heritage Foundation gets hacked over Project 2025 and the Republican VP nominee’s close ties to the elites he rails against; and Ticketmaster finds itself the target of a new ransomware attack. Plus, the U.K.’s Digital Safety Act has raised concerns it could allow regulator Ofcom to scan end-to-end encrypted messages for child abuse content and erode the security of those services, among other things.

While much attention is being paid to the physical threats facing journalists, a growing academic field has turned its focus to questions of digital security and privacy. The scope of these threats is broad, and newsrooms cannot address them on their own. Collaborations with policymakers, platforms, and domestic and international civil society organizations must be fostered to support the global press’ ability to report responsibly and safely.