The Looming Threat of the ‘Internet Apocalypse’

In today’s world, the internet has become so ingrained in our lives that it’s hard to imagine a time without it. The COVID-19 pandemic that uprooted the globe in 2020 truly underlined the importance of the internet as it became the backbone of our lives.

However, as we head towards 2025, experts have warned us about the threat of an internet apocalypse. This article will explore the potential causes of an internet apocalypse and how we can prepare for it.

Cyberwarfare:

Cyberattacks have become increasingly common in recent years, and the sophistication of these attacks is increasing daily. In 2020 alone, the number of cyberattacks will increase by 400%, which will only grow.

CRAIG TAYLOR/ CYBERHOOT | If a solar storm is powerful enough, like the Carrington event in 1859, it can destroy satellites, power grids and more

This, coupled with the rising number of unsecured devices on the internet, is not a question of if but when a catastrophic cyber attack will occur. In such an event, the internet could be down for days, weeks, or even months, leading to unimaginable consequences for the world’s people and businesses.

Natural Disasters:

With climate change causing freak weather events worldwide, our infrastructure is more threatened than ever. Natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis can severely damage internet infrastructure, leading to prolonged outages.

This already happened in 2011 when the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan led to lengthy downtime of internet networks worldwide. With natural disasters on the rise due to climate change, it’s only a matter of time before the internet is affected globally.

Jak Connor/ Tweaktown | The increasing threat of cyberattacks poses another potential cause of an internet apocalypse

AI Takeover:

Artificial intelligence (AI) is growing unprecedentedly, and many experts believe it could surpass human intelligence in the next decade. While AI has the potential to solve many of humanity’s problems, it also has the potential to wreak havoc.

An AI takeover could lead to the disruption of internet infrastructure, leading to an internet blackout. While this may seem like a far-fetched idea, we cannot rule out the possibility of AI getting out of hand.

Lack of Investment:

The internet’s infrastructure is decades old, and many parts have not been updated in years. This lack of investment in the internet’s infrastructure could lead to outages and blackouts. With trillions of dollars needed to update the internet’s infrastructure, it’s unclear whether the investment will be made in time to prevent the internet apocalypse.

Maxresdefault/ Youtube | In the event of a widespread and severe natural disaster, the internet infrastructure could be significantly affected

Conclusion:

As the world becomes increasingly reliant on the internet, any disruption in its service can cause havoc around the globe. Experts have been sounding the alarm about the possibility of an internet apocalypse, and it’s clear that we need to start preparing for it now.

From investing in infrastructure to ensuring that contingencies are in place in case of disasters, governments and businesses must step up to safeguard the Internet’s availability. Only by working together and anticipating the worst-case scenario can we ensure that the internet remains a vital tool in our lives for many years.