A recent panel held in Australia explored how Blockchain can be used for cybersecurity. The panel concluded that blockchain was a viable option, and offered solutions on how to ensure the safety of computer systems.
Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common in Australia, with the country recording an increase in cybersecurity compromises of 80 percent in the past 12 months. The attacks have also become more complex and hackers are now choosing to manipulate data through editing rather than deleting.
Blockchain Australia CEO Steve Vallas, a recent appointee, held a panel that was attended by more than 300 experts in the field of cybersecurity to discuss how blockchain can be used as a cybersecurity solution. The panel wanted to explore solutions that blockchain can offer to counter the recent spike in the compromise of computer systems through data manipulation.
Cybersecurity discussion
The expert discussed the viability of blockchain as part of Australia’s cybersecurity plan. Although many agreed that it was not yet a complete solution, they were in agreement that it would eliminate a lot of vulnerabilities that hackers are currently using to compromise the systems.
Take for instance data manipulation that has become rampant in Australia, where hackers are able to access databases and change data. Blockchain could be able to rectify this because it records everything that is saved in it, with the ability to track changes in real-time and point to vulnerabilities or individuals responsible for the change of data.
Blockchain, however, was still not manipulation proof, but it offered a better alternative than what is currently used. For instance, experts argued that manipulation can be done prior to data being entered in blockchain and it would be very hard to track if the data is credible or not. Guy Harrison, CTO of blockchain database firm ProvenDB, argued that this problem will be able to be sorted in the future when blockchain is integrated into systems by using artificial intelligence to verify data before they are entered in the database.
Data integrity
CEO of cybersecurity firm CyberCX John Paitaridis also talked in the panel and described what he termed as state players compromising Australia’s cybersecurity.
Paitaridis said that China was a major contributor in the current cybersecurity compromises in Australia, referencing a speech made by the Prime Minister in June, which indicated that an unnamed state actor-read China- was responsible for the recent hackings of businesses and government institutions in the country.
Paitaridis continued by emphasizing that it was no longer about keeping hackers out of computer systems, it was about maintaining data integrity, reiterating that hackers are now using data manipulation to ensure data can no longer be used for its intended purpose.
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