Recently, it has been pointed out that cooperation between the private sector and the government is essential to respond to cyber attacks, including the recent hacking incident involving SK Telecom.
Anne Neuberger, a former national security official at the White House and a professor at Stanford University, noted during the seminar titled 'Digital sovereignty and cyber security in the AI era,' hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) on the 27th, that 'cyber weapons have become a significant means of influencing global affairs and a powerful tool for national action.'
Professor Neuberger served as the deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology at the White House and responded to the hacking incident involving telecommunications companies that occurred in the United States last year. At that time, a hacker group was known to have hacked into at least eight U.S. telecommunications companies, gaining access to the communications records of high-ranking officials.
Professor Neuberger said, 'The initial detection of the hacking incident last year began when a private cybersecurity corporation informed the U.S. government. The White House convened the CEOs of telecommunications companies to facilitate cooperation across the industry in responding to the crisis.'
Professor Neuberger remarked, 'Telecommunications hacking is not just a simple act of espionage; it is a preparation intended to hinder military mobilization in a crisis or to cause civil disruption.' She emphasized, 'Having experienced both attack and defense in U.S. intelligence agencies for 15 years, I have witnessed defense often lagging behind.'
She continued, 'To counter hacking threats, enhancing cooperation between the government and the private sector is essential,' adding, 'Since hacking crimes target all nations, private-public collaboration and international solidarity are necessary to find solutions.'
The United States is leading the Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI), strengthening cybersecurity cooperation with 70 countries and international organizations. The effectiveness of sanctions increases as the number of participating countries grows.
CRI conducts various activities, including blocking cryptocurrency-based money laundering, establishing an information-sharing platform among private entities such as hospitals, and promoting international cooperation at the level of the United Nations Security Council. Key participating countries include Singapore, Lithuania, India, Israel, Rwanda, and the United Arab Emirates.