Source Of Threat Research Articles

Protected areas shape the distribution of tourism across rural Europe

Abstract Protected areas (PAs) have expanded rapidly in recent decades to help mitigate the ongoing biodiversity crisis but are under increasing human pressures that jeopardize their conservation effectiveness. Tourism in PAs may galvanize efforts towards biodiversity conservation, but it can also be a major source of threats, leading to multiple adverse social and ecological impacts. Considering the recent Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to protect at least 30% of terrestrial ecosystems by 2030, understanding and assessing how and which PAs shape the spatial distribution of tourism is of great importance to biodiversity management and policy. In this study, we used a geospatial data set that describes the location and capacity of tourism accommodation in 81,185 local administrative units (LAUs) covering over 28 countries across rural Europe. After estimating the number of nights spent per LAU, we modelled the influence of PAs on the distribution of tourism throughout Europe while controlling for other social, economic and environmental covariates, but also for spatial autocorrelation. We reveal a positive link between highly protected PAs and the number of nights spent by tourists in LAUs. The attractiveness of these PAs for tourists may pose a conservation paradox, that is, highly protected PAs, which aim to safeguard nature tend to attract a disproportionate number of tourists, which may lead to nature degradation. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Three-dimensional trust: disentangling trust relations in the context of converted asylum seekers

ABSTRACT Forced migration always involves dramatic life changes, but with converted asylum seekers, these changes become especially devastating. Conversion entails building relationships with local religious groups while former social ties usually get severed. Typically, forced migrants seek support from friends, family and relatives. For converted asylum seekers, these bases of security often turn into sources of psychological violence and threats. We examine how converted asylum seekers and members of the congregations they join experience and make sense of trust. We have interviewed representatives of both groups to understand the role of trust in their relationships and in relation to other actors involved in the asylum process. Methodologically, we test Frederiksen’s distinction between three dimensions of trust (relations, objects and situations) on an empirical case and develop this analytical tool further. The findings emphasize the complex and dynamic role that proximity, affects and temporality play in relation to trust. Theoretically, we offer a definition of trust that emphasizes affects and ascribed moral agency instead of belief in the good will of another toward oneself.

Анализ угроз информационной безопасности органов государственной власти с помощью нейронных сетей

<p>Ensuring the information security of public authorities requires the use of specialized tools that take into account various sources of information threats and their constant changes. This study aims to develop a methodology for analyzing these threats using neural networks. The research uses methods such as machine learning and neural network analysis to systematize the data. The authors adapted the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) architecture and configured the hyperparameters of the neural network to achieve their objectives. The neural network was trained using the Python programming language, and its effectiveness was evaluated using metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The results of the study included the development of a method for creating a data set that encompasses assessments of threats to the information security of various public authorities and their sources. Additionally, the study evaluated the effectiveness of neural networks in solving classification problems for public authorities. Finally, the study interpreted the results of neural network analysis to determine the resistance of public authorities against information security threats.</p>

Легитимность насилия в техногенном обществе

The author examines the transformation of violence as a way of survival into “violence of power”, characteristic of modern civilization, the legitimacy of its legitimization, the use of resources of the information network society, technogenic civilization to regulate internal and external state relations, and new management perspectives. The legitimacy of the activities of states that claim the right to identify weak, dying or failed states as the source of modern political violence, instability and threats, and to carry out "humanitarian missions" against them, is called into question. The types of violence that are logically built into the development system of modern technogenic society, such as economic, institutional, and informational, are considered. Attention is drawn to the effectiveness of new technologies for the introduction of military innovations and the development of military potential in support of external legitimate state violence. The inability of modern society to control and regulate increasingly complex information systems and the tendency of the authorities to proactively assess negative consequences and prevent the possibility of their occurrence are emphasized. The mechanisms of a technogenic society contribute both to the control of the legitimacy of power and provide the power with the opportunity to control society. Therefore, a culture of peace can serve as a new trend in the development of humanity.

Protection of intellectual property rights in the field of national security and defense of Ukraine

It is considered the formation of an economic-legal mechanism for the protection of intellectual property rights in the field of national security and defense of Ukraine and it is substantiated that this mechanism is a complex system in a broad sense, where there is a combination of integrated innovative activity of the state scientific and production structures of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine with the Ukrainian National Office of Intellectual Property and Innovations in the direction of protection of intellectual property rights, and also it has a basis of innovativeness (innovative-intellectual activity) taking into account the relevant principles and priorities. The effectiveness of the mechanism in the conditions of creating an innovative and intellectual environment in the field of defense with the cycle «science – technics – technology – production – defense» is determined as a targeted combination of highly qualified leading specialists and scientists in the appropriate organizational-functional and technical-technological production structure, which is aimed at innovative-intellectual activity and technical-technological entrepreneurship, where the economic component is taken into account – receiving remuneration during the commercialization of intellectual property rights objects in the form of profit, royalties, combined payment, which are intended to stimulate the subjects of right to protect intellectual property rights. Attention is focused on the activities of subjects that have violated intellectual property rights in the aspect of the directions of violations. These directions allow us to look for effective ways of countering such activities in the field of national security and defense of Ukraine. It is noted that the formation of an economic and legal mechanism for the protection of intellectual property rights in the sphere of national security and defense of Ukraine will contribute to effective countermeasures against violations of property rights of intellectual property in this important field of activity. Important criteria for the effectiveness of the protection of intellectual property rights are outlined, which are: the level of professionalism and personal responsibility of judges, the level of creative thinking and creativity of judges, the level of court independence, the level of software, organizational, personnel, legal and information support of the court apparatus. Arguably, the lack of appropriate legislative regulation and experience in the commercialization of military and defense technologies and equipment using IPPR is pointed out in Ukraine, creates opportunities for violations of property rights of intellectual property, which lead not only to the lack of effective protection of the rights of IPPR subjects, but also affect on the defense capability of the state. The economic and legal mechanism for the protection of intellectual property rights in the field of national security and defense of Ukraine is presented, which requires coordination of the efforts of all subjects authorized to protect and protect intellectual property. It is noted that the development of the sphere of intellectual property has a decisive influence on the state of national security, which is linked to organizational measures to neutralize internal sources of threats and protect against external threats to national security.

Counterterrorism in Ethiopia: source of threat or security to the people?

ABSTRACT The objective of the counterterrorism policies of Ethiopia as reflected in the anti-terrorist proclamations was to protect the right of people to live in peace, freedom and security at all times from the threat of terrorism. However, in practice, the counterterrorism policies followed the designation of opposition political forces as terrorist organisations and unprecedented crackdown on political opposition and critical voices. Therefore, this emancipatory study examines the theory and practice of Ethiopia’s counterterrorism policies with the objective to unravel its political use and abuse, and hence demystify its security referent. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews, and the analysis of the anti-terrorist proclamations, explanatory notes, speeches, terrorism files and records, and reports of international human rights organisations. The analysis revealed that counterterrorism in Ethiopia remains the source of threat rather than security to the people in the country.

Proactively Defending Enterprise Computer Systems Against Threats and Vulnerabilities

Cybersecurity remains a critical concern, even amidst global events like the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise of COVID-19 has deepened cybersecurity threats, with phishing emails and phone scams attempting to exploit the situation. This paper focuses on proactive strategies to protect enterprise environments against threats and vulnerabilities, specifically in Windows-based systems. Tracing threats and vulnerabilities to their source aims to address them in their early stages rather than after an attack has occurred. This research tackles three prevalent issues: phishing emails, vulnerability patching, and industrial internet-connected devices. Through analyzing various cyber defense models and vulnerability databases, this paper proposes frameworks to mitigate these issues effectively. The study includes a detailed examination of sources of threats and vulnerabilities, aiming to develop methodologies for practical implementation. Ultimately, the goal is to summarize best practices to enhance tool utilization and process improvement and propose new proactive defense methods. The research emphasizes the shift from reactive to proactive defense strategies to better protect enterprise networks.

Specifics of applying operational and combat measures and tools in counterintelligence operations under the conditions of the ongoing Russian military aggression

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has faced the challange to sophisticate actual and fundamentally new approaches, methods and means of countering threats to national security under conditions of the ongoing full-scale invasion of Russian troops and occupation the territory of Ukraine. The imposition of martial law in Ukraine has considerably expanded the range of practical tasks performed by the bodies and departments of the Security Service of Ukraine. The conditions of the intelligence activities, specific features of counterintelligence activities during the war have been forming new approaches of counterintelligence operations. These factors set and manage new operational and combat tasks for the Security Service of Ukraine. Moreover, SSU is an authorized body in the sphere of counterintelligence activities, that performs tasks of preventing, detecting and analyzing threats to the national security of Ukraine and make challenges to the vital interests of the state. The accomplishment of thesre tasks is plausible on the basis of efficient and prompt identification and threats prevention to the national security of Ukraine, identifying the sources of threats, origin and consequences in order to successfully select methods and means to counter them. The application peculiarities of the operational and combat methods and means by the counterintelligence units of the Security Service of Ukraine during the execution of operational and combat missions in the conditions of the ongoing Russian military aggression against Ukraine are considered in the study. It has been determined that under martial law the counterintelligence units have developed a set of measures to counteract the Russian special services activities as a result of the special tasks that are under provisions of the Security Service of Ukraine. This was accomplished due to the efficiency and enemy goals identification, thoroughly selected methods and forms to prevent intelligence and subversive activities, using appropriate means to overcome the enemy. Mainly, the Security Service of Ukraine adjusts to modern realities, changes, supplements and improves its methods of activity. The Security Service of Ukraine develops a far-sighted strategy, amends its skills with new tactical techniques, creates and uses cutting-edge operational and combat tools and methods, which are transformed and sophisticated in the conditions of war. All these measures prevent threats to national security posed by the enemy. These methods are successfully applied by the counterintelligence units of the Security Service of Ukraine during the execution of operational and combat tasks, and require further theoretical justification.

Pastoralists Health and Public Health Threat in Ghana

Pastoralists move their livestock from pasture to pasture following traditional and historic patterns to move towards available forage for their livestock. The availability of pastures is influenced by the seasons and climate change that dictate the distance of movement of pastoralists; it could be cross-regional or cross-country movement. In a unique public health survey, a large sample of these pastoral nomads in Ghana were interviewed in eleven districts in Ghana. The data was collected mainly through interviews, case studies, and reviews of records of nomads in some selected health facilities. Several clear findings emerge including that: (a) these pastoralists have little engagement or trust with public health, (b) commonly engage the public health sector only as a last resort typically when diseases are in an advanced stage, (c) have a very low awareness of public health practices towards disease awareness, avoidance and treatment, (d) have poor access to public health services and (e) typically consume animals that are known to transmit zoonotic diseases from animals to humans. This means that this population is a relatively sick population and carries untreated diseases. In their engagement with the general populations, they would be expected to transmit these diseases to the general population and could be the source of new disease threats, such as, what emerged with COVID-19. It is encouraged that specific strategies be developed to engage this population to improve health conduct and behavior including sensitizing them to the dangers from contracting zoonotic diseases. While this study focuses only on pastoralists in Ghana, it is likely that other pastoral communities in Africa present similar public health challenges.

Back from the dead: the ecology of IR

Rather than dealing in death, if IR is to retain relevance among the social sciences in seeking to both account for and change a world in the midst of a deepening ‘polycrisis’, it needs to recognise and take its place in the web of life. In this article, I firstly argue for the need to ‘choose life’ by de-centring three key (interrelated) pillars of the discipline: the normalisation of militarism as a means and end of foreign policy; economic growth as the means and end of industrial economies and anthropocentrism and its unstated ideology of human supremacy in world affairs. Secondly, I propose a series of conceptual and methodological innovations by which a more ecological view of IR might take hold in the discipline, as well as concrete political strategies for embedding it in the conduct of IR. I suggest that these moves form the basis of both an improved account of the underlying sources of key threats in world politics such as war, poverty and ecological crises and an alternative source of solutions focussed on transcending dominant features of the discipline through a more than human account of IR and a more global and pluriversal account of world politics and the relations which matter most within it.

Building digital resilience in the training of national security professionals and teachers of the «Defence of Ukraine»

The article reveals the peculiarities of forming digital resilience of national security specialists and teachers of the «Defense of Ukraine» as an important factor in countering modern challenges and threats, ensuring stable development of society and protecting its digital future. It is noted that specialists should identify sources of threats to the country's information space and apply mechanisms to discredit them, as well as take into account the focus of the enemy's destructive actions on vulnerable groups through social networks and targeted advertising. It is emphasized that the formation of digital resilience can be quite effective when studying the educational component «Strategic Communications»”, during which future national security specialists and teachers of the «Defense of Ukraine» study such key elements of this type of communication as informing, influencing and persuading; information efficiency; coordination and deconfliction; «communication by action” and reducing the gap in the «say-do» construct. Building digital resilience in national security professionals and teachers of the Defence of Ukraine involves mastering the skills of creating their own and using specialized critical platforms and tools necessary to identify and counter hybrid threats. Attention is focused on the mechanisms of digital resilience formation as a concept of «Society 5.0», which has become a kind of theoretical challenge to the socio-economic and socio-cultural transformations that occur as a result of the total introduction of digital technologies. It is noted that in the context of the problem under study, there is a risk of uneven development of digital media by people, which actualizes the need to introduce mechanisms to intensify adaptive processes at the state level.

OTI-IoT: A Blockchain-based Operational Threat Intelligence Framework for Multi-vector DDoS Attacks

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a complex network comprising interconnected devices that transmit their data via the Internet. Due to their open environment, limited computation power, and absence of built-in security, IoT environments are susceptible to various cyberattacks. Denial of service (DDoS) attacks are among the most destructive types of threats. The Multi-vector DDoS attack is a contemporary and formidable form of DDoS wherein the attacker employs a collection of compromised IoT devices as zombies to initiate numerous DDoS attacks against a target server. A Blockchain-based Operational Threat Intelligence framework, OTI-IoT, is proposed in this article to counter multi-vector DDoS attacks in IoT networks. A “Prevent-then-Detect” methodology was utilized to deploy the OTI-IoT framework in two distinct stages. During Phase 1, the consortium Blockchain network validators employ the IPS module, composed of a smart contract for attack prevention and access control, and Proof of Voting consensus, to thwart attacks. Validators are outfitted with deep learning-based IDS instances to detect multi-vector DDoS attacks during Phase 2. Alert messages are generated by the IDS module’s alert generation and propagation smart contract in response to identifying malicious IoT sources. The feedback loop from the IDS module to the IPS module prevents incoming traffic from malicious sources. The proposed OTI framework capabilities are realized as an outcome of combining and storing the outcomes of the IDS and IPS modules on the consortium Blockchain. Each validator maintains a shared ledger containing information regarding threat sources to ensure robust security, transparency, and integrity. The operational execution of OTI-IoT occurs on an individual Ethereum Blockchain. The empirical findings indicate that our proposed framework is most suitable for real-time applications due to its ability to lower attack detection time, decreased block validation time, and higher attack prevention rate.

Habitat degradation changes and disturbance factors in the Tibetan plateau in the 21st century

Land use changes driven by human activities significantly impact biodiversity in plateau regions. However, current research is largely confined to identifying correlations between various factors and both habitat quality and degradation, overlooking the nonlinear relationships between them. To address this gap, we applied the PLUS-INVEST model to investigate the spatial effects of land-use changes on habitat quality and degradation patterns across the Tibetan Plateau during the 21st century. By employing a geographic detector, we determined the contribution rates of disturbance factors to habitat quality and degradation, and established constraint lines and threshold ranges between these factors. The findings reveal that: (1) The PLUS model demonstrates an exceptional performance in land-use simulation, with an overall accuracy of 0.8465. (2) The high-quality habitat area exhibits a declining trend, while the habitat degradation index steadily rises from 2000 to 2100, indicating a significant loss of biodiversity within the region. Habitat quality displays a spatial distribution pattern characterized by higher values in the south and lower values in the north, with areas in proximity to road threat sources experiencing more pronounced habitat degradation. (3) NDVI emerges as the most influential factor in promoting habitat quality, while the interaction of NDVI_Temperature exerts the greatest influence on spatial heterogeneity. The distance to resident emerges as the primary disturbance factor contributing to habitat degradation, with the interaction strength of GI_Resident being the most significant contributor. (4) Threshold intervals for ANPP, NDVI, precipitation, temperature, and distance to resident of optimal habitat quality and most severe degradation. This provides a novel scientific approach for designating areas for targeted conservation and intensive management restoration.

Cyberedukacja społeczeństwa – korzyści i zagrożenia

The author points to an important area of education, as the article refers to cybereducation as an opportunity to acquire, process and share information over the Internet and using computer systems. Cybereducation in society is provided at several levels: family environment, school (academic) environment, professional (workplaces) environment, local government, community organisations, media. The family environment is mainly about teaching children to be sceptical about sharing data online and teaching them how to use a tablet or computer properly. Cybereducation notably includes cyber lessons given by school and university teachers on how to use the Internet safely. Cybereducation also includes services consisting of offering employees a cybersecurity training package. Non-governmental organisations, an essential part of democracy and civil society, play a significant role in cybereducation in society. The media presence used by individuals and entities who are a source of threat to international peace and security is also significant in this regard. The article contains the characteristics of concepts related to cybereducation, describes the threats and benefits to this issue, and contains conclusions for improving the quality of cybereducation.

Institutional differences and threats to international tourists from the perspective of new institutional economics

The main aim of this article is to demonstrate theoretical connections in the context of institutional differences for the international tourist, which may constitute a source of threats due to institutional differences between countries. The article highlights theoretical threats stemming from institutional differences for international tourists from the perspective of new institutional economics, the research methods of which provide the analytical framework for this analysis. The post-pandemic period could transform preferences among international tourists, who are increasingly drawn to countries with significant cultural diversity. This creates dangers arising from institutional differences that may affect their sense of security and, consequently, have implications for social costs significant to the industry, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring its crucial role in global economic development.

Cyber threats to the Private Academic Cloud

The potential breach of access to confidential content hosted in a university's Private Academic Cloud (PAC) underscores the need for developing new protection methods. This paper introduces a Threat Analyzer Software (TAS) and a predictive algorithm rooted in both an operational model and discrete threat recognition procedures (DTRPs). These tools aid in identifying the functional layers that attackers could exploit to embed malware in guest operating systems (OS) and the PAC hypervisor. The solutions proposed herein play a crucial role in ensuring countermeasures against malware introduction into the PAC. Various hypervisor components are viewed as potential threat sources to the PAC's information security (IS). Such threats may manifest through the distribution of malware or the initiation of processes that compromise the PAC's security. The demonstrated counter-threat method, which is founded on the operational model and discrete threat recognition procedures, facilitates the use of mechanisms within the HIPV to quickly identify cyber attacks on the PAC, especially those employing "rootkit" technologies. This prompt identification empowers defenders to take swift and appropriate actions to safeguard the PAC.

The Bacau (Romania) phosphogypsum stacks as a source of radioactive threat: a case study

ABSTRACT For a detailed characterization of the 5.7 106 mt phosphogypsum (PG) stack in the vicinity of Bacau city, Romania, the air dose rate (ADR) was measured in 72 points covering the stack surface, while 10 samples of stack material were collected for future analysis. Radiometric determinations showed for the ADR values varying between 364 ± 53 and 489 ± 8 nSv/h, with some extreme values of 2775 ± 734 nSv/h, significantly exceeding 90 nSv/h, the average value reported for the Romanian territory. High-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy (HRGS), performed on 10 samples collected from the entire PG stack evidenced only the presence of 226Ra as the major radioactive element with a specific activity varied between 820 ± 150 and 5278 ± 264 Bq/kg for hot spots. Further analysis performed on a similar number of samples by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), evidenced, beside gypsum as the main component, traces of brushite (CaHPO4·2H2O) and ardealite (Ca2(PO3OH)(SO4)·4H2O), as well as the presence of small acicular celestine (SrSO4) agglomerates. XRF determinations of the mass fractions of major elements evidenced values such as SiO2 (2.31 ± 0.73 %), TiO2 (0.07 ± 0.01 %), Al2O3 (0.17 ± 0.04 %), Fe2O3 (0.87 ± 0.18 %), MnO (0.01 ± 0.01 %), MgO (0.17 ± 0.02 %), CaO (32.5 ± 0.82 %), Na2O (0.04 ± 0.04 %), K2O (0.05 ± 0.01 %), P2O5 (2.12 ± 0.51 %), LOI (20.2 ± 0.3 %), i.e. closer to literature reported data for PG of different provenience while the data concerning the distribution of 20 trace elements, including incompatible Sc, La, Ce, and Th were relatively closer to the upper continental crust (UCC).

The fight against corporate fraud as one of the activities aimed at ensuring the personnel security of enterprises

This article raises the problem of ensuring personnel security from the point of view of corporate fraud. In their work, the authors cite various types of corporate fraud, cites statistics, and discovers sources of internal and external threats. In addition, the article examines methodological studies of the past years, on the basis of which the authors propose their own methodology for combating corporate fraud.

Teacher evaluations of interethnic bullying of an Arab student: The role of perceiving refugees as a threat or benefit

AbstractInterethnic bullying that targets ethnic minority students has serious consequences for the lives of victimized students. Teachers’ evaluations of the bullying are critical because teacher intervention can stop bullying and improve the adjustment of victimized students. Because the literature has documented partially overlapping biases against people of Arab ethnicity and people with refugee backgrounds, this study investigated whether teachers’ attitudes toward refugees play a role in their evaluations of the interethnic bullying of an Arab student. Teachers (n = 373; 77% female) who participated in the study filled the Threats–Benefits Inventory (TBI) that measured two types of attitudes toward refugees (perceiving refugees as a threat and perceiving refugees as a benefit) and evaluated a hypothetical vignette of interethnic bullying targeted at an Arab student. SEM analysis, controlling for gender, age, and contact with refugees, indicated that teachers’ attitudes toward refugees were not associated with their perceptions of the interethnic bullying as wrong or with their willingness to intervene. However, viewing refugees as a source of high threat or low benefit was consistently associated with lower recognition of the negative outcomes of the interethnic bullying. Moreover, a greater willingness to intervene positively associated with female gender and increasing age. The study suggests that teachers’ attitudes toward refugees may contribute to underestimating negative outcomes of interethnic bullying among students. To foster appropriate evaluations of interethnic bullying, teacher education should aim to promote understanding of different marginalized groups and to reduce biases against people with refugee backgrounds.

Saudi Diplomacy Towards the Somali-Ethiopian Border War 1982 - 1988

The aim of the research is to identify the role of Saudi diplomacy vis-à-vis the 1982-1988 Somali-Ethiopian border war, particularly since the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea are particularly important in Saudi security thinking; The conflicts in the Horn of Africa region represented an important source of security threat to the region's neighbours, particularly Saudi Arabia, because every conflict that erupted in the region had implications for Saudi Arabia; By virtue of the long coastal boundary on the Red Sea.