Smith: How should Canada deal with the threat posed by cyberattacks from abroad?

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19 October, 2012
By: Gordon Smith
Executive Director of the Centre for Global Studies and CIGI Distinguished Fellow

Cyber-security is a huge issue. Canada’s economy and society are vulnerable to attacks; we are vulnerable individually as well as collectively. We must develop technically sophisticated protective and defensive measures both in Canada and in cooperation with our allies. More is needed. We also need to think creatively and be prepared to work globally to develop rules, a form of Internet governance, leading to a regime which will mitigate the risks. That regime will not be respected by everyone, state or non-state actor. It will not be perfect. But it will provide a base on which measures to reduce our vulnerability can be developed.

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