The internet in the United States is the most vulnerable in the world, according to a study released June 7, a digital call to arms for government and private security firms to secure the web.

The United States scored the highest in nearly every “exposure” measure conducted by the firm Rapid7, including the number of IP addresses, amplification-prone services and exposed endpoints.

“The most risk to the internet originates in countries that have significant investment in, and reliance on, a safe and stable internet,” the report said.

Rapid7 defined exposure as when a country uses unencrypted internet, services that are “unsuitable” for public access, or subject to amplification.

Although 2018 is only half over, report said this year is already the highest on record for distributed denial-of-service attacks.

The firm also said that September 2017 saw the first major database-based hack since 2003.

“If you must reach your database over the internet, you’re far better off setting up an SSH tunnel or other VPN service in front of it,” the report said. “Many of these internet-exposed databases appear to be legacy, unmaintained systems.”

China has the second most susceptible web in the world according to the report, followed by Canada, South Korea, the United Kingdom and France. The least exposed nation in the world is the Federated States of Micronesia.

About Justin Lynch

Justin Lynch is the Associate Editor at Fifth Domain. He has written for the New Yorker, the Associated Press, Foreign Policy, the Atlantic, and others. Follow him on Twitter @just1nlynch.

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