139/68 Friday, April 11, 2025
Cybersecurity and international policy experts are warning that newly announced U.S. import tariffs may inadvertently worsen the global cyber threat landscape—particularly if the measures lead to economic downturns. A potential recession could drive organizations to cut cybersecurity budgets, leaving them more vulnerable to cybercrime and state-sponsored espionage. Despite a temporary 90-day suspension on some tariffs, analysts predict that the cybersecurity repercussions will persist and potentially intensify, especially among businesses under severe cost pressures.
Matt Pearl, Director of Strategic Technologies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), notes that reduced resources often lead to weakened cyber defenses and a damaging perception that cybersecurity investments yield no tangible returns. He also cautions that some nation-states may exploit this window of economic instability to ramp up espionage efforts, particularly targeting economic intelligence to gain leverage in trade negotiations. In parallel, economic hardship may drive individuals and groups toward illicit income sources, including cybercrime and ideologically motivated hacking.
While the likelihood of overt cyberattacks from U.S. allies remains low due to high political and economic costs, analysts at Cyfirma emphasize that covert espionage operations remain a critical concern. History shows that even close allies have conducted secret intelligence-gathering when national economic interests were at stake. Meanwhile, corporations must prepare for a surge in opportunistic threats from independent hackers, cyber activists, and cybercriminal gangs, particularly as government agencies like CISA face staffing and resource shortages. In this uncertain climate, marked by shifting trade policies and economic volatility, both private and public sector organizations must enhance cyber vigilance. Experts urge executives to treat cybersecurity as a strategic priority and invest in robust defense systems to stay ahead of the evolving threat landscape.
Source https://www.darkreading.com/cyber-risk/tariffs-increase-global-cyberattacks
