William Akoto – The Conversation

A July 2026 cyberattack targeted more than 30 water systems in Minnesota municipalities, including Plymouth. AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt

August 4, 2026

How hackers attack municipal water systems – and why the utilities are so vulnerable

William Akoto, American University School of International Service

A cybersecurity researcher explains how hackers target small computers that control a water system’s tanks, pipes and valves.

Iran has long had sophisticated hacking operations. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

April 8, 2026

How Iranian hackers pose a threat to US critical infrastructure

William Akoto, American University School of International Service

A cyberattack on a US corporation illustrates how state-aligned hackers operate, and how damage in war today isn’t always readily visible or geographically confined.

Cutting off China’s access to advanced U.S. chips is likely to motivate Chinese cyber espionage. kritsapong jieantaratip/iStock via Getty Images

June 25, 2025

Blocking exports and raising tariffs is a bad defense against industrial cyber espionage, study shows

William Akoto, American University

Supply-chain decoupling doesn’t stop rival nations from hacking each other and can make it worse. A cyber-espionage expert explains what does work.

The U.S. Justice Department was among many federal agencies and private companies whose networks suffered intrusions from Russian hackers. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

January 29, 2021

Espionage attempts like the SolarWinds hack are inevitable, so it’s safer to focus on defense – not retaliation

William Akoto, Fordham University

A scholar of cyber conflict sets out why retaliation doesn’t prevent future attacks, and explains what might have a better chance.

Dua CubeSats, bagian dari sebuah konstelasi yang dibangun dan dioperasikan oleh Planet Labs Inc. untuk mengambil gambar Bumi, diluncurkan dari Stasiun Luar Angkasa Internasional pada 17 Mei 2016. NASA

February 27, 2020

Ancaman keamanan siber: peretas mampu mematikan satelit atau mengubahnya menjadi senjata

William Akoto, University of Denver

Beberapa analis telah mulai mengadvokasi keterlibatan pemerintah yang kuat dalam pengembangan dan pengaturan standar keamanan siber dan dunia maya untuk satelit dan aset luar angkasa lainnya.

Two CubeSats, part of a constellation built and operated by Planet Labs Inc. to take images of Earth, were launched from the International Space Station on May 17, 2016. NASA

February 12, 2020

Hackers could shut down satellites – or turn them into weapons

William Akoto, University of Denver

SpaceX and other companies are rushing to put thousands of small, inexpensive satellites in orbit, but pressure to keep costs low and a lack of regulation leave those satellites vulnerable to hackers.

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