Cybersecurity experts say the west has failed to learn lessons from Ukraine

Over the past few years, cyberattacks have become increasingly common in the western world. But despite the countless warnings from security experts, many countries in the West have failed to learn from the lessons of the attack that hit Ukraine in 2015.

In December of that year, malicious software dubbed BlackEnergy afflicted the power grid in the western half of Ukraine. The attack resulted in more than 200,000 people left without power in the dead of winter – a chilling example of just how devastating a cyberattack can be.

While the Ukrainian power grid was eventually restored, it was clear that the attack had exposed a glaring vulnerability in other countries’ infrastructure. In response, experts called for the West to invest in better monitoring systems, increased security awareness, and greater protections against cyberattacks.

Unfortunately, those calls have largely gone unheeded. Even today, many Western nations lack the necessary protections to prevent the kind of attack that hit Ukraine. Though some progress is being made, the fact remains that the West still hasn’t adequately addressed the issue of cybersecurity.

This is especially troubling considering the potential consequences of a cyberattack. Not only could such an attack disrupt essential services, but it could also be used to spread disinformation or influence elections. In Ukraine, the attack was blamed on adversaries of the country as part of a larger campaign against the Ukrainian government.

Without adequate safeguards in place, countries could find themselves powerless in the face of a similar attack. The West must take action now to ensure its networks remain safe and secure.

Cybersecurity experts have repeatedly warned that the West has failed to learn from Ukraine’s experience. If countries do not take the necessary steps to protect themselves, they risk being left vulnerable to the same kind of attack. It is time for the West to take the necessary steps to safeguard its digital infrastructure.