Which countries are the most and least prepared for cyberattacks?

22 Mar 2017

Image: Clara/Shutterstock

With the number of cyberattacks only increasing in number, what countries are the best – and least – prepared for the years ahead?

We have been told again and again that defending ourselves and our businesses against cyberattacks that could potentially be both costly and seriously damaging is essential.

Yet, despite this, many reports focusing on Ireland, for example, show that the public and businesses are still very much vulnerable.

On a governmental level, multi-state organisations like the EU reported that, in 2016, it was on the receiving end of 110 separate cyberattacks, marking a 20pc increase on the previous year.

Also, since deciding to leave the EU, the UK government has announced intentions to spend nearly £2bn on cybersecurity measures, on top of the £265m it was already spending to plug cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Then, of course, there are the ongoing concerns in the US regarding the role of other nations in its affairs, particularly surrounding the election of Donald Trump as US president.

However, efforts are being made by security firms and researchers to make us more secure.

This even goes so far as the recruitment of artificial intelligence to keep researchers one step ahead of a vast criminal underworld conducting cybercrime on a massive scale.

So, with all this in mind, what country can claim to be the best at protecting itself from an online onslaught, and which ones are leaving themselves very much exposed?

A recent infographic from Comparitech helps answer these questions.

Cyberattacks infographic

Infographic via Comparitech

Colm Gorey was a senior journalist with Silicon Republic

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