Infrastructure connected to the internet becomes a target. Attacks like ransomware on hospitals or energy grids (e.g., the Colonial Pipeline hack) show how vulnerable tech-enabled infrastructure is.

Cybersecurity threats have become alarmingly pervasive, with ransomware and botnets posing serious risks to both critical infrastructure and residential systems in the United States. These threats are no longer isolated incidents but systemic challenges that jeopardize national security, public safety, and individual privacy. Moreover, the rise of dark web marketplaces offering cheap ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) kits and botnet rental services has further lowered the barrier to entry for cybercriminals, amplifying the scale and frequency of attacks.

In an era where social media dominates our lives, the boundary between truth and deception has never been so fragile. Platforms once heralded as champions of free speech are now battlegrounds of manipulation, misinformation, and a deliberate erosion of trust. Reduced content restrictions on these platforms, justified under the banner of freedom, might instead herald a dark age where free will becomes an illusion—and the younger generation is at the greatest risk.