State Department Looks After the Next Cyber Threat: Africa

The federal government increasingly is concentrating diplomatic efforts on protecting Americans from hackers, but less is said about foreign allies who are equally mobile and even more vulnerable. Now, the State Department is paying attention. In emerging economies -- which depend on inexpensive smartphones for everything from banking to crime-fighting -- network security is almost an afterthought.

Today, "due diligence" is one of State's top priorities, Thomas Dukes, senior adviser for the department’s Office of the Cyber Coordinator, said Tuesday. Foreign Service professionals will help developing nations strengthen their communications infrastructure. India, South Africa and other emerging nations potentially pose a cyber threat to themselves, and, to some degree, global networks that are interconnected.