“Boldly Going beyond Fiction: Cybersecurity Lessons from ‘Star Trek: Picard'”

In a recent article from The Conversation, cybersecurity researcher Richard Forno highlights the useful lessons “Star Trek: Picard” provides regarding the modern world’s cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. Although rooted in science fiction, certain scenarios from the show offer both entertainment and education for people to understand the realities of cybersecurity.

The final season of the series features the return of the Borg, a cybernetic collective of half-human, half-machine “drones” that previously tried to conquer humanity. The Borg has partnered with other villains and stealthily infiltrated the federation by compromising the DNA data contained in the software underpinning Starfleet personnel’s teleportation devices. Therefore, in launching their final attack, the Borg is able to instantly activate thousands of compromised Starfleet personnel.

The Borg’s prolonged infiltration of the federation reflects how today’s most effective cyber attackers operate. Experts worry about the effects of an enemy infiltrating critical systems from within, as attackers can put malicious code in software during manufacturing or in software updates, both of which are avenues of attack that do not arouse suspicion until the compromised systems are activated or targeted. Therefore, it is vital to ensure the security and integrity of digital supply chains from product development at the vendor through product deployment at client sites to avoid having silent “drones,” such as malware, being activated by an adversary.

Moreover, the show presents the very real and insidious nature of the insider threat faced by today’s organizations. Trusted employees become co-opted and inflict significant damage on an employer, or in some cases, remain undiscovered for years. It emphasizes the importance of being cautious of employees who may have malicious intents and detecting possible threats on time.

Although technology can offer conveniences and cost savings, organizations should not put it into widespread use without carefully considering potential risks or vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider their plan if their IT environment becomes corrupted or inaccessible, which is vital to ensure its services remain available to the public.

Finally, as modern digital defenders, to successfully confront our cyber unknowns, a broad appreciation of things beyond just cybersecurity and technology is necessary. Understanding literature, history, psychology, philosophy, law, management, and other nontechnical disciplines can inform how organizations plan for and respond to cybersecurity challenges of all types.

In conclusion, “Star Trek: Picard” offers a practical and understandable cybersecurity reminder for today. Its final season provides viewers with entertainment and education on the modern world’s cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, emphasizing the importance of digital supply chains’ security and integrity, insider threats, and being cautious of technology.