The Rising Threat of Cyberattacks: An Urgent Call for Enhanced Cybersecurity Measures

James Paek
4 min readJul 6, 2024

In recent months, a wave of cyberattacks has targeted a diverse array of organizations, ranging from health departments to auto dealerships, underscoring the vulnerabilities in our increasingly digital world. The Florida Department of Health (DOH) is among the latest victims, experiencing significant disruptions in its vital statistics system, which manages sensitive personal information, including birth and death records. This incident, along with others affecting industries such as healthcare and automotive, highlights the critical need for robust cybersecurity protocols and proactive policy measures to safeguard our digital infrastructure.

CDK Global Outage on Car Dealerships

The Growing Sophistication of Cyberattacks

Cyberattacks have evolved in sophistication and scope, making them more devastating than ever. Hackers now employ advanced tactics, such as hiding within an organization’s system for extended periods, moving laterally to affect multiple parts of the system, and launching attacks at strategically opportune times. This patient and calculated approach amplifies the damage inflicted when the attack is finally executed, as seen in the case of CDK Global. The company, which provides software to over 15,000 car dealerships, experienced a debilitating cyberattack that halted…

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James Paek

James Paek is an expert writer on a diverse range of subjects including SDGs, global issues, policy, criminal justice, economy, and other topics.