Facebook calls for cybersecurity in emerging markets

Facebook' new security chief has called on the Internet industry to go beyond securing the web “for the 1 percent” and create cybersecurity defences that will work across emerging markets. Alex Stamos, a former Yahoo security executive famous for his vehement criticism of the US National Security Agency, said he would prioritise building security solutions to protect people who do not have the benefits of the most up to date technology. Speaking on the sidelines of the Def Con cyber security conference in Las Vegas (NV), Stamos said consumer Internet companies such as Facebook could not rely on the security industry to keep all their users across the world safe. “We can’t say you are only safe if you are on the latest phone in a country with a great human rights record,” he said. Responsibility for fighting hackers has landed mainly with the private sector, unlike so-called offline criminals who are targeted by law enforcement agencies. Private sector companies tend to target wealthy customers such as banks rather than ordinary users in developing countries.