BlackBerry’s Jeff Davis, Scott Scheferman: Smart City Dev’t Requires Increased Ransomware Cybersecurity

Jeff Davis and Scott Scheferman, vice presidents at BlackBerry, wrote in a GCN article published Friday that as communities develop smart cities, ransomware incidents across the globe are increasing the demand for cybersecurity.

The authors have made tactical recommendations to prevent ransomware, a type of malware that blocks a user from device access until an amount is paid to the attacker, from becoming more frequent. Analyzing past cyber attacks will help individuals see the significance of fast, automated threats, and users must install security upgrades as soon as they become available. In addition, the authors recommend the close inspection of internet of things platforms.

“By proactively analyzing the security of any IoT device that is deployed into a smart city, critical infrastructure leaders can develop a plan of action to thwart attacks, even as ransomware attacks spread to corporate networks, hospitals and entire cities,” wrote Davis and Scheferman.

The report also emphasizes the importance of segregating systems to boost visibility and prevent the spreading of threats.