Major cyberattacks have the potential to cripple a society. That’s why Microsoft, the Hewlett Foundation, MasterCard and other philanthropic organizations launched the CyberPeace Institute, a non-governmental organization (NGO), on Thursday to help prevent cyber attacks and help victims.
Malicious acts that fall under the radar of the CyberPeace Institute are those that could affect, for example, hospitals, businesses or advocacy organizations.
The organization also wants to combat cyber attacks targeting large sections of civil society, such as the one perpetrated with WannaCry ransomware, which reached more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries in a matter of hours in May. 2017.
“We need to find concrete solutions to build resilience in vulnerable communities, highlight the malicious activity of cybercriminals and raise awareness of responsible behavior in cyberspace,” said CyberPeace Institute President and CEO Stéphane Dugu in a statement.
The organization has three main missions: helping vulnerable communities and organizations, facilitating cyber-attack analyzes and investigations, and promoting positive and responsible behavior in cyberspace.
The goal would be to establish a network of cybersecurity volunteer volunteers, or cybervolunteers from all sectors who could provide technical assistance to victims.
“We want to fill the void that exists in cyber conflicts,” summarized the director of the organization, Marietje Schaake, in an interview with Le Monde.
