Published on October 30, 2026.

In our previous article, “What If the Internet Went Down?”, we discussed emergency alternatives for ambulance and fire services and for informing citizens. Today we ask a more serious question: what if the internet doesn’t go down, but is taken over by those we would rather not have in control?

The hacking of a large advertising screen on a main road in Cairo may look like a passing moment of mischief. In truth, it is a warning bell. Whoever can reach a screen may try to reach something far more important.

Imagine the software of water and electricity plants being breached, the systems of trains and airports failing, or the health insurance databases going dark. The difference between the two scenarios is great An outage is a fault we know how to deal with. A breach is a system that works against us or lies to us, and we may discover it only when it is too late.

Before we ask “what are we going to do?”, we need: To separate critical systems from open networks, so that no hand can reach from a screen to a plant.

Isolated backups, and manual operating plans that are ready and tested.

Regular security audits, trained national talent, and stricter security standards for the bodies that run these systems.

An official, trusted channel for addressing citizens in a crisis, so that rumors do not get there before we do.

Cybersecurity is no longer a technical matter. It has become part of the security of the home, the street and the state, And danger does not always arrive with noise. It may start with a screen.

So do we read the message now, or wait until it becomes a disaster?