KUWAIT CITY, Oct 4: Information has recently been circulating on social media that the Internet will be cut off on October 11 due to geomagnetic storms. On the basis of rumors, suspicions and expectations, stories spread quickly among social media users.

Al-Seyassah daily followed up on what was happening on social media platforms in order to clarify the facts and highlight the government’s role regarding the phenomenon, by posing questions to experts in fields of IT and cybersecurity, in an investigative report in this regard.

The experts emphasized that just talking about something like this requires the government to take all measures and precautions, even if the possibility of it happening is weak.

They called for making backup copies of databases and strengthening computers with programs to protect against piracy and viruses.

Professor of Information Technology at Kuwait University Dr. Ahmed Al-Munees indicated that the possibility of a global Internet shutdown on October 11 due to a geomagnetic storm is just a rumor, stressing that the last geomagnetic storm was before the current technology.

He said, "However, the state must make backup copies and keep them permanently, as well as strengthen computers with anti-piracy and anti-virus programs on an ongoing basis, and take all security precautions related to cyber security.

Geomagnetic storms cause electromagnetic flares that may reach the Earth and cause distortions on the Internet or the cables that connect the continents of the world. However, the possibilities are very weak, especially since most cables are usually established under a strong structure capable of confronting these risks.

As it was mentioned that cutting off the Internet is a common occurrence and some geographical areas may be affected by it, the percentage of impact will be limited."

Dr. Al-Munees reiterated that a global Internet shutdown is a rumor, indicating that such a rumor occurred five years ago, "but Kuwait must take into account all possibilities".

Alternative means

In this regard, the cybersecurity specialist Hoda Al-Kiribani said the information about an Internet outage around the world and its impact on the planet is a “rumor”.

She stressed that the information being circulated that it will happen due to possible effects of solar winds is not true, especially with the alleged assertions about submarine Internet cables being damaged during these storms.

Al-Kiribani indicated that the repetition of these rumors in recent years with the same scenarios is evidence of their weakness adding that geomagnetic storms of this size are rare, and no evidence has been found to confirm the validity of this information.

However, she called for the need to take precautions at all levels by the state, institutions and individuals.

Al-Kiribani also called for the continuation of monitoring and verifying the effectiveness and readiness of the Internet infrastructure, including cables and satellites, and developing effective response strategies for any potential malfunctions, activating the role of cybersecurity, and developing alternative means of communication.

Backups

Head of the Accounting Department at the College of Administrative Sciences in Kuwait University Dr. Sadiq Al-Bassam said, “Precautions are necessary in all eventualities, even if the issue is a global internet shutdown on October 11, regardless of whether this matter is a rumor or a reality."

He called on all state ministries to protect their information by making copies of all their documents, especially those related to Kuwait’s foreign relations.

Dr. Al-Bassam highlighted that Kuwait, during the Iraqi invasion and before the spread of the Internet globally, had backup copies of all its files, and therefore the iCloud service must be generalized in all government agencies.

He said, "The issue of a global Internet shutdown differs from the hacking that the Ministry of Finance was subjected to, especially since hackers have repeatedly infiltrated sensitive devices in America."

In addition, Professor of Computer Science and Technology at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training Dr. Bader Al-Khudari said the issue of a global cut-off of the Internet is just a rumor to distract the world, as such a thing occurring in this era is highly unlikely.

He stressed the importance of Kuwait taking precautions in preserving its information, like it did during the period of the Iraqi invasion when it kept copies of all documents of government ministries.

By Najeh Bilal
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff