Cyber-Crusaders of the Vatican: The Holy See is defended from cyber-attacks.

Cyber-Volunteers of the Vatican: Digital Defenders of the Holy See

A group of enthusiasts calling themselves 'Cyber-Volunteers of the Vatican' has brought together over 90 IT specialists from various countries around the world. They work to protect the Papal Throne from increasingly dangerous cyber-attacks. The initiative, which started in 2022, includes both believing Catholics and specialists without religious beliefs who wish to combat cyber crime.

“We are like the Swiss Guard that ensures the safety of the Vatican, but in a digital format,” noted the founder of the group, Joseph Shenouda.

The volunteers constantly collaborate with the Vatican, reporting potential threats, providing free cloud services, and checking systems for vulnerabilities through pentesting.

Weaknesses and Past Attacks

Despite these efforts, the Vatican still has one of the lowest levels of cyber protection according to the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024. The Cyber-Volunteers detect numerous weaknesses in the infrastructure and warn of the rising cyber-attacks.

In the past, the Vatican has repeatedly fallen victim to cyber espionage, including attempts to hack email servers and official websites. To improve the situation, a security director has been appointed and special measures have been taken during the conclave.

The activities of the 'Cyber-Volunteers of the Vatican' highlight the necessity of creating a Chief Information Security Officer position to coordinate protective measures. This shows that even spiritual institutions need modern approaches to cybersecurity.

Today's world proves that no organization is protected from digital threats, and only the joint efforts of specialists and society can combat them.