The president of Microsoft proposes a Digital Agreement against cyber attacks against civilians

The president of Microsoft, Brad Smith, warned today of a new arms race through "invisible" cybernetic weapons that directly impact the lives of citizens, by which proposed a new "Digital Agreement" in which countries commit themselves not to attack civilians.

Geneva, November 9 (EFE) .- The president of Microsoft, Brad Smith, warned today of a new arms race through "invisible" cybernetic weapons that directly impact the life of citizens, so he proposed a new "Digital Agreement" in which countries commit themselves not to attack civilians.

In a speech at the European headquarters of the UN on the occasion of the Week of Peace, Smith said that possibly the world in one or two generations will look back on May 12, 2017 and say that "on that date the world changed again".

It was that day when It caused the attack of the virus "WannaCry", which affected public services and companies in much of the world, by blocking computers and demanding a ransom of 300 dollars (254 euros).

"It was a attack launched with cybernetic weapons created in one country, then stolen and then used by another, and came to affect, damage or ruin more than 200,000 computers in 150 countries before it could be stopped "by the British computer expert Marcus Hutchins, pointed out Smith.

The president of Microsoft asked the public in the Hall of the Assemblies of the UN in what moment in the history of our planet has there been a single attack promoted by a nation that has affected so many countries simultaneously as on May 12.

Only one month Then there was another attack, the "Nyetya" virus, which focused on disrupting the electrical system, the civil infrastructure and the private economy of Ukraine, although it later expanded.

Smith He recalled that these attacks no longer focus only on the economy, but also on the lives of citizens and politics, as has been seen in attempts in the US and Europe to influence presidential elections.

"One might think that, thank God, they are just machines, but that's where we should go back to May 12 and re-read the British report on the virus 'WannaCry' in which it was revealed that the attack broke hospital work and affected 6,912 patients, "said Smith.

" We see nations attacking civilians even in times of peace ", added in a nod to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 for the protection of civilians in times of war.

"You have to think what an attack with daily lives can do if you They pirate automobiles, thermostats, air conditioners, every hospital, every traffic light that will be connected to the internet, "he said.

He admitted that it must be the technology industry that assumes first its responsibility to protect clients, governments and NGOs from cyber attacks, but insisted that at the end of the day it is a "shared responsibility".

Por it proposed "a new Geneva Convention", a "Digital Geneva Convention", in which the States Parties commit themselves not to attack civilians in peacetime, nor hospitals, systems Electricity, political processes in other countries or the intellectual property of companies.

In contrast, countries must "work together to help each other and the private sector to respond when there are cyber attacks, "Smith said.