WEEK 10 Secure Digital-Germany?

    When the Internet started to grow many threats started to appear and with it the need for security in the digital world. To protect its users, companies started to implement passwords, however that prompted the first generation of hackers. Who’s attempts to crack the feeble code structures that were supposed to “protect” the users created further distress. The constantly challenged systems prompted a varied development of security protocols and softwares. Whilst some passwords are meant to provide online security, others protect hardware and some softwares provide security for different digital threats such as viruses and trojans. However, the online space grows on a daily basis and is included into educational, state and everyday systems requiring increasing security measures.

    Kevin Mitnick, hacker and IT-expert, defines security with three factors: technology, training and policy, depending on the digital culture of a country a different level of cyber security is present. At the moment I live in Germany, which is somewhat of a phenomenon when it comes to digitalization, whilst having the technology and leading certain sections of the digital world globally, to some extent it still is one of the least digital countries in the EU.

    I know that many companies and universities provide members of their society with antivirus softwares and educate their users to some extent how to use their accounts, contributing to the “technology” factor of security. My university provided us with an explanation why we should not use the Mobile-Microsoft Exchange app, as the servers located in the US do not necessarily protect university data, therefore a “policy” was set and “training” provided. Based on my experience, in Germany there’s a general understanding of digital security: delete spam emails, do not click on unknown links, ignore chain messages, do not reuse passwords. However, the slow digitalization in the country has allowed a loophole: not using the digital sphere at all. Faxing documents, sending in originals and signed copies via the mail, coming in in person instead of verifying the identity with a digital method are still a prominent choice in Germany. By avoiding the digital space, a greater security is ensured. However, it leads to a lack of “training” as people are reluctant to use the digital pathways, as most facilities are very persistent about using little digitalization.

    The lower digitalization has also lead to little use of credit cards and mobile paying methods, therefore many bike couriers are paid by cash, certain shops only accept cash and a strong basis for uncontrolled money laundering is created, rather reducing security than ensuring it. The reason: a hesitant attitude towards the general created by a lack of “training”. However, the skeptical attitude forces the existing methods to increase their safety by adding additional verification steps such as Postident, a company that ensures your identity with a videocall, by comparing the picture on your ID to the face on the video or 3D Secure to verify purchases made with your credit card online. According to Mitnick’s formula that increases security through the policy and technology factors.

    Furthermore there are several laws were enforced to increase cyber security, in 2015 the “IT-Sicherheitsgesetz”  was passed to ensure greater cyber security of critical facilities.

    Overall the cyber-security in German does ensure a certain safety, but the reason is the lack of digitalization and complicated policies, not an effective software solution. Regarding the fact that we are in an information society and digitalization is necessary for a survive the modern world, Germany is just postponing the issue of cyber security, not seeking a modern solution.