This rapid digital expansion has created conditions where cyber risks can directly impact real-world systems.

Cyber Attacks Move Beyond Data Theft, Now Threaten Human Safety

As digital systems become deeply embedded in everyday life, cyberattacks are beginning to pose risks that go far beyond data theft, with potential consequences for physical safety and critical infrastructure.

Highlighting this shift, Deloitte’s South Asia cyber leader Gaurav Shukla pointed to the growing interconnection between information technology and operational systems across sectors such as transport, aviation and public services.

India’s expanding digital ecosystem, often referred to as India Stack, has emerged as a global model, with similar frameworks being explored in nearly two dozen countries. However, the widening scope of digital services, including payments, healthcare and education, is also increasing exposure to new vulnerabilities.

With more than 30 billion sensor-based devices in use globally, averaging over three per person, the number of potential entry points for attackers has grown significantly. This rapid digital expansion has created conditions where cyber risks can directly impact real-world systems.

Shukla noted that threats are no longer confined to financial losses. A compromised vehicle system could affect driver control, while manipulation of medical data or devices may put patients at risk. Disruptions to power supply networks could also have large-scale consequences.

He added that the use of artificial intelligence by attackers could intensify the scale and speed of such threats, making continuous monitoring and stronger safeguards essential.