The National Crisis Center sees cyberattacks as one of the most real threats to our country. Disinformation and fake news can also have harmful consequences.

The National Crisis Center has released its latest risk analysis looking at the biggest risks facing our country. This analysis is carried out every three years. The tenor sounds rather threatening because, according to the crisis center, the general risk situation has increased compared to three years ago.

Likely risk of cyber attacks

The Crisis Center is particularly concerned about geopolitical tensions at the global level, in which Belgium is indirectly involved. Fortunately, fears of war are still low, but Belgium is feeling the effects of tensions with Russia and in the Middle East in the form of cyberattacks. The risk of cyber attacks, espionage and other forms of sabotage is even “very likely”.

That doesn’t sound like an empty warning. Recently, after local elections, several local governments fell victim to Russian hackers. Belgium is even one of the ten countries most affected by ransomware worldwide. The crisis center warns that this will not decrease.

Disturbing effect

Cyber ​​attacks can have “disruptive effects,” according to the crisis center. This is especially true when hackers attack critical infrastructure such as hospitals or energy networks. The crisis center may not immediately see an attack on a nuclear power plant or a chemical site, but this could have very serious consequences.

Attacks that paralyze government administration also cause great damage, as does the disclosure of sensitive technical, financial or medical information. Finally, the spread of disinformation is highlighted as a major risk, as false information can lead to division in society.

Since the NIS legislation, critical infrastructure organizations have been required to protect themselves from cyberattacks and report regularly to the government. In addition, they are subject to external evaluations. The successor NIS2 extends these obligations to additional sectors. The law has been in force since October 18th: Belgium is one of the few European countries that has managed to implement the European directives into national law in a timely manner.