“Weekend Briefing” is a weekly newsletter sent to subscribers of The Readable every Friday. Our journalists select important news items from the previous week on topics ranging from privacy to policy development in cybersecurity, all to help you stay abreast of the latest breaking issues. And not only is this provided free of cost to our subscribers, but the briefing contains new content exclusive to subscribers, such as our insightful industrial reports.
As most global data transmission occurs via undersea cables, these essential conduits of information are prime targets for espionage and sabotage, particularly from adversaries of the West operating out of Asia and the Middle East. David DiMolfetta consulted key experts on the safety and security of these vital resources to share their insights with our readers into their current condition and plans for keeping them safe.
International cooperation to safeguard cyberspace is taking shape through legislation designed to facilitate joint investigations among allied nations. Minkyung Shin attended a cybersecurity policy forum in Seoul this week, where she met with representatives from the United States, Japan, and South Korea. She also covered another Seoul conference focused on national cybersecurity. Both stories can be found below.
Eight additional stories were reported through The Readable daily briefings. These include a survey conducted by the Financial Security Institute of South Korea, which revealed that consumers prioritize security over convenience in digital services. Also included are estimates of the number of North Korean hackers active in online criminal activity on behalf of the North Korean regime. Significant articles from The Washington Post and Politico are also included in this briefing.
This is Dain Oh reporting from South Korea, and here is your weekend briefing.
1. Western powers face greater challenges than expected in protecting undersea cables from espionage, analysts warn
Last month, the nations that comprise the prominent Five Eyes intelligence alliance, along with several of the group’s allies, announced that the extensive network of underwater cables that permit global data transmission requires updated security standards.
The vast amount of data constantly transferred via these cables—notably among allied Western powers that find themselves pitted against an array of cyber adversaries out of Asia and the Middle East—makes them prime targets for espionage and sabotage. Global reliance on underwater cables “presents major risks related to critical public interests and has national and economic security implications,” stated a coalition comprised of 15 nations and the European Union in a statement released in late September.
The statement outlined high-level principles aimed at strengthening cable protections against both accidental damage and covert hacking. However, cybersecurity experts who have advised allied nations and standards bodies warn that principles alone may not be enough—particularly as prominent cyber adversaries like Russia and China have neither endorsed nor committed to respecting these standards.
“These [cables] are actually harder to defend than computer networks,” said James Lewis, a former United Nations information security advisor who helped craft the Wassenaar Arrangement that oversees some 42 nations’ exports of technology and security tools.
“Having principles is nice, but only if everyone agrees to follow them,” said Lewis, head of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Washington, DC-based Center for Strategic & International Studies. READ MORE
2. Cybersecurity experts from US, Japan, South Korea stress need for international cooperation
Seoul―The 5th Cybersecurity Policy Forum―Cybersecurity experts from South Korea, the United States, and Japan stressed the need for international cybersecurity cooperation to strengthen protection against cyber threats.
At the 5th Cybersecurity Policy Forum in Seoul on Tuesday, three experts discussed their countries’ digital information strategies for tracking cybercrime. They highlighted the need to enhance global partnerships to safeguard individuals’ data and privacy in the face of cyber threats. The forum is organized by the National Security Research Institute (NSR), which focuses on researching and developing national security initiatives in South Korea.
William Cobb, Deputy Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, stated that the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act enables foreign partners to access electronic evidence for cybercrime investigations through bilateral agreements with the United States. The law aims to protect individuals’ privacy and promote international human rights. READ MORE
3. South Korean association hosts conference to discuss cybersecurity statecraft for middle power
The Korean Association of Cybersecurity Studies (KACS) hosted its annual international conference on Friday, themed “Middle Powers’ Cybersecurity Statecraft.” Security experts from middle-power nations, including South Korea, Australia, Ukraine, and Israel, joined the deputy director of the National Intelligence Service to discuss the importance of cybersecurity statecraft.
“Today, we live in a world where the line between the physical world and cyberspace is increasingly blurred. Cyberspace has become a critical foundation for global societies and economies,” said Yoon Oh-jun, the third deputy director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), in a welcoming speech. “As a result, we face new challenges in keeping people safe and ensuring national security.”
Yoon warned that hacking groups targeting the nation have become increasingly sophisticated. He noted that the world now faces a wider variety of threats than ever before, including a growing number of cases involving the misuse of artificial intelligence. READ MORE
4. South Korean financial consumers prioritize security over convenience in digital services, survey shows – The Readable
As digital financial services gain popularity among South Korean consumers, a new Financial Security Institute survey shows a shift in priorities, with most users now valuing security over convenience. According to the 2024 survey of 1,000 consumers ages 20 to 89, 90.6% expressed a willingness to tolerate minor inconveniences for enhanced security—a notable rise in awareness since the last survey in 2019. READ MORE
5. Over 10,000 North Korean hacking attempts targeting South Korea’s military in 2023 – South Korea’s Kukmin Ilbo
North Korea has reportedly attempted more than 10,000 cyberattacks on South Korea’s military and related agencies this year, with preemptive measures successfully preventing damages for the past five years. South Korea’s Cyber Operations Command disclosed this information during a National Assembly Intelligence Committee meeting, according to representatives Lee Seong-kweun and Park Sun-won. READ MORE
6. Chinese hackers said to have collected audio of American calls – The Washington Post
Chinese state-linked hackers, identified as the Salt Typhoon group, allegedly intercepted audio from calls involving U.S. political figures, including a Trump campaign adviser. This ongoing espionage operation, now under federal investigation, is raising significant national security concerns as the 2024 election approaches. The group reportedly accessed sensitive, unencrypted communications while steering clear of end-to-end encrypted channels, though the full scope of the intercepted data remains uncertain. READ MORE
7. Hacked info from state security databases sold to rich clients: Milan prosecutors – Politico
Milanese prosecutors have placed four individuals under house arrest and are investigating additional suspects in connection with a large-scale breach of Italian state security databases reportedly orchestrated by a private investigative firm. The firm is said to have accessed sensitive government data on behalf of high-profile clients, including businessmen and politicians, dating back to at least 2019. This confidential information was sold or used for blackmail, with notable figures such as Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, son of Luxottica’s founder, and Enrico Pazzali of Fondazione Fiera Milano identified among those involved. READ MORE
