Computer professional, cybersecurity consultant, former policeman and ethical hacker, they launched the NGO Hackers Without Borders to help humanitarian organizations defend themselves against cyber threats.
Far from the main principles of hacking that attacks the strong and spares the weak, cybercrime today affects everyone and especially the most vulnerable. We remember, for example, that in the midst of a pandemic, when there was an influx of patients, French hospitals were hit by cyberattacks.
At the beginning of 2022, there is even a major victim in the humanitarian world: the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the target of a theft of particularly sensitive data. The victims of this flight, more than 500,000 people, are refugees who have fled war or authoritarian regimes. The latest elements communicated point to a targeted attack, probably the work of a state actor.
“The goal is to help associations that are less armed”
A situation that caused a collective of IT and cybersecurity professionals to react. Karim Lamouri is director of computer systems for a city in the 93 and works in cybersecurity. With three other founding members, a former gendarme from the C3N (unit specializing in cybercrime of the national gendarmerie), a cybersecurity consultant and an ethical hacker, they founded Hacker Sans Frontières.
“The idea was to set up a collective, which quickly became an association and is now an NGO“explains Karim Lamouri full of enthusiasm. ” Humanitarians are not only at risk in the physical world, they are also targeted by digital crimes. Our goal is to help associations that are less armed. Because we have the knowledge, it’s our role to do that. Defend those who don’t have the money to protect themselves, those who are left behind. Prevent, detect and neutralize cyberattacks. »
“No need to be unicorns”
And the initiative is beginning to unite cybersecurity and Tech in small circles: “We had 150 membership requests, and already 100 profiles that are acceptedcontinues the founding member.They come from about fifteen countries for the moment, but especially from France.. So many volunteers, volunteers to help associations that need it.
Still in full launch, the association explains discussing with several NGOs. But Karim Lamouri is already full of ambition, with other organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Reporters Without Borders as a source of inspiration: “These NGOs do invaluable work, we must perpetuate this spirit of international mutual aid. We don’t have to be unicorns, to talk sorrel. We can do things“. And to call on volunteers, cybersecurity specialists or not, not to hesitate to join them.