Compare cybersecurity risks in the U.S. and another country:

As countries race to become the more prominent cyber power, building their infrastructure and conducting espionage on the capabilities of others, they still must defend against attacks on their own.   The United States and China have competed against one another in almost every aspect, including financial health, military readiness, and even sports. Technology is similar, and each country continues to work toward becoming more technically advanced than the other. However, with innovation comes risk, and both the United States and China must incorporate cybersecurity measures to protect their assets while working to build their infrastructure.

According to a 2021 report commissioned by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the United States “retains a clear superiority over all other countries in terms of its ICT empowerment…” (IISS, 2021). The United States has emphasized becoming a cybersecurity leader and has become increasingly effective at recognizing weaknesses in its infrastructure and maintaining digital defense. The previous statement continues, however, with “but this is not a monopoly position,” referring to the rise of other countries, such as China’s, cyber capabilities. According to the same report, over the years, China has also worked to “conduct large-scale cyber operations abroad” and develop its signature cybersecurity defenses, putting it closer to the capabilities of the U.S. (IISS, 2021).

Despite both countries’ attempts to maintain the security of their infrastructure, they are still susceptible to attacks from bad actors abroad and at home. While their way of cracking down on illegal activities may seem different, the U.S. and China both deal with phishing scams, malicious software, denial of service attacks, and much more. Although China passed its Cyber Security Law in 2017, the amount of cybercrime has increased exponentially, with over 282,000 cyber-crime-related cases, most of which were related to online fraud (Wyk, 2022). In its dealings with cybercrime, the FBI estimated that more than four billion dollars were lost to cybercrime in the U.S. (U.S. Department, 2022). While the U.S. may currently be in the lead for the unofficial “better secured” nation, both countries deal with cybersecurity risks daily. Though increased legislation and better training programs for its citizens, both countries could reduce their cybersecurity risk.

International Institute for Strategic Studies. (2021). Cyber Capabilities and National Power: A Net Assessment. https://www.iiss.org/blogs/research-paper/2021/06/cyber-capabilities-national-power

U.S. Department of State. (2022, August 30). Cybercrime – United States Department of State. U.S. Department of State. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.state.gov/cybercrime

Wyk, B. van. (2022, August 23). China’s cyber crime problem is growing. The China Project. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://thechinaproject.com/2022/08/23/chinas-cyber-crime-problem-is-growing/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20report%2C%20there,by%20providing%20advertising%2C%20payment%2C%20and