It’s not just dating, dinner and dancing dominating our online lives. The internet is fast becoming a digital battle ground entrenched in a hybrid war. Cyber-attacks during Russia’s unprovoked ground, sea and air attack on Ukraine and defending against online threats means spending on cybersecurity is expected to jump, spurred on by the US. Because - like Luke Skywalker preparing for a wave of imperial TIE fighters 👾 - organisations around the world have been told to go ‘shields up’ to protect themselves from a potential cyber-attack surge. 

And Americans aren’t necessarily safe hiding in their geographical bunker. National Security Agency (NSA) Director ADM Michael Rogers says US companies could find themselves caught up in the cyberwar if Russia tries to target America’s way of life. 🎯 Think companies like Coca-Cola or McDonalds, he says.

The cyber battle is already getting messy. Rebel hacker group Anonymous has reportedly thrown their support behind Ukraine taking the battle to space, hacking a website belonging to Russia’s Space Research Institute. 🚀 A lot of internet gets conducted through space and our very own Han Solo 2.0, Elon Musk, says that after deploying Starlink internet terminals in Ukraine, terminals in conflict areas were being jammed. Musk also warned that their terminals are highly likely to be targeted and that he’d redirect SpaceX resources to cyber defence to help resolve the issue.

Big cybersecurity companies have activated their deflector shields and have been actively involved in thwarting attacks. CrowdStrike (CRWD), which provides cybersecurity solutions, has been working to protect companies from a new Wiper malware used in Ukraine cyberattacks. Meanwhile, Cloudflare (NET), specialists in defending companies from DDoS and other cyber attacks, has been working to protect Ukraine from DDoS attacks and to offer free protection for vulnerable groups like journalists, social activists and humanitarian organisations. May the force be with them. 👊