We remain well behind the curve when it comes to securing and encrypting our urban networks. And as smart cities grow increasingly common, it is necessary to consider what might happen if these insecure networks are attacked.
The majority of cities around the world remain wholly unprepared for a large-scale cyber attack with the ability to disable traffic control systems or even shut down a public utility. In fact, Cesar Currodo estimates that there are 200,000 vulnerable traffic control sensors installed in cities around the globe.
As these cities become more and more integrated, it becomes easier and easier for a hacker to cripple a city by disabling the least secure element of this integrated network. Finally, smart cities around the world face a shortage of cyber leadership. The vast majority of cities currently lack a clear cyber leader – an individual responsible for securing each element of a smart city’s vast network. Until such issues are resolved, cities across the globe remain openly vulnerable to a crippling cyber attack.