The international community was shocked when Israel was accused of launching an attack on Lebanon by rigging pagers to explode. Most media reports in Taiwan focused on whether the pagers were produced locally, arousing public concern. However, Taiwanese should also look at the matter from a security and national defense perspective.
Lebanon has eschewed technology, partly because of concerns that countries would penetrate its telecommunications networks to steal confidential information or launch cyberattacks. It has largely abandoned smartphones and modern telecommunications systems, replacing them with older and relatively basic communications equipment. However, the incident shows that using older technology alone cannot fully protect oneself from external threats.
If the attack was carried out by Israel, then it shows that it has powerful cyberattack capabilities and uses intelligence to learn of any changes in Lebanon’s communications system.
That highlights the challenges in intelligence security and technical protection — it does not matter whether one adopts modern technology or reverts to old equipment; it cannot completely avoid attacks.
Any technical system has vulnerabilities, and relying solely on a certain protection method is not enough. Countries must improve their protection capabilities, intelligence collection and analysis to deal with attacks from other aspects.
The incident is a warning to Taiwan, the government and competent authorities. Taiwanese should be vigilant about imported products. Seemingly harmless goods or equipment might be converted into lethal weapons in the hands of advanced adversaries.
Warfare would no longer be limited to traditional weapons; it would use technology, intelligence and espionage activities in invisible attacks.
Taiwan must strengthen its national security awareness and establish a higher-level review mechanism for commodity imports, equipment use and technical cooperation to prevent potential security loopholes. Taiwanese must also be alert to the risks that might arise from products of unknown origin.
Lu Chun-wei is a dermatologist and assistant professor at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.
Translated by Lin Lee-kai
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