Cyberattacks, disinformation, crises. We are in a war for immunity

Economic and technological security is one of the greatest challenges of our – not the future, but everyday life.

– For years, our associations with security were simple: a map, a border post, a soldier on guard. If the border was guarded, the country seemed stable. Today, this image fits reality less and less – notes Dr. Jacek Janiszewski, chairman of the Welconomy Program Council, in an interview with “Wprost”.

Dr. Janiszewski: There is a “war for consciousness”

As the expert emphasizes, in 2026, threats rarely cross borders in columns of soldiers. They appear on computer networks, in disinformation campaigns, and in the content we see right after unlocking the phone. He cites CSIRT NASK data: in 2023, the team registered over 80,000 cybersecurity incidents – twice as many as the year before. This shows the scale of a phenomenon that is no longer incidental and has become an element of everyday life.

– There is more and more talk about the “war for consciousness”. Its goal is not to burn down the city, but to destroy trust – in institutions, the media, courts, and ultimately in each other. The latest opinion polls in the European Union show that a large proportion of citizens regularly encounter disinformation, and only a few feel confident in recognizing it. This is an ideal environment for those who want to play with society instead of talking to it, says Dr. Jacek Janiszewski.

According to the expert, in this context, economic and technological security is no longer a separate chapter of state policy.

– More and more European companies are moving their data to the cloud. On the one hand, it is convenience and development, on the other – growing dependence on external technology suppliers. In a crisis situation, “turning off the tap” on digital services may be as severe as suspending the supply of raw materials, says Dr. Janiszewski.

“Common sense is becoming a scarce resource today”

According to the expert, the meaning of the word “peace” is also changing.

– It is increasingly difficult to talk about a simple division: war or no war. We operate in a state of constant pressure – informational, economic, energy. The limits are being tested not only by the military, but also by hackers, raw material speculation and organized online campaigns, notes Dr. Janiszewski.

In his opinion, security no longer means a state in which “nothing is happening.” Today, resilience is becoming key – the ability to quickly react and rebuild after subsequent shocks.

– We will not avoid cyberattacks, economic crises or attempts to influence public opinion. The question is how society and the state react when this happens, says the chairman of the Welconomy Program Council.

According to the expert, the most scarce resource today is not new technology, but common sense.

– Critical thinking, the ability to check sources, basic awareness of who sends certain messages to us and why – this is a real shield in the 21st century. The border still exists on the map. But whether we can defend it will largely be determined by what is happening in our heads – and on the screens we hold in our hands – says Dr. Janiszewski.

Welconomy Forum on Monday

The next edition of the Welconomy Forum in Toruń will start next Monday, February 23. They will talk about security, finance and technology, among others. Minister Waldemar Żurek, Mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski, Minister Marcin Kulasek, prof. Henryk Skarżyński and General Rajmund Andrzejczak.

– Today, the state’s resilience is built at the intersection of science, business and politics. This is clearly visible during the next editions of the Welconomy Forum – including the one that will take place next week. The composition of the participants itself shows that it is no longer possible to separate discussions about the budget, infrastructure and defense. The number of tanks is no longer the only determinant of strength, notes Dr. Janiszewski.