In a post, Fick called the security breach part of the “perils of the job,” but didn’t offer further details.
Between Feb. 6 and Feb. 10, Fick will travel to Seoul, South Korea, to meet with officials and discuss cooperation on cybersecurity, technology infrastructure, and digital regulation. After the Korean visit, the ambassador will be in Boracay, Philippines, for the third Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Digital Ministers’ Meeting.
The Feb. 4 security breach arrives on the heels of a January controversy when multiple media reports claimed 200 million emails linked to Twitter user profiles were stolen.
Fick’s appointment couldn’t be more timely, as threats to digital security infrastructure from China and Russia are at a historic high. Moreover, cyber vulnerability has risen in lockstep with political tensions.
Digital security measures used by governments and the private sector are becoming increasingly obsolete due to the evolving knowledge of cybercriminals, according to a 2022 risk assessment from the World Economic Forum.
And with more cyber crime comes more damage in the form of dollars. The cost of hacker-related crime worldwide is estimated to reach $8 trillion this year and is forecasted to top $10 trillion by 2025.
The State Department was unable to respond to a request for comment in time for deadline.