You place your order, make payment and only later notice a small detail: only one letter of the website address was different.

This shows how easily you can fall into a cybercriminal trap. If you’re lucky, the amount lost is small and your bank acts quickly by refunding the money and reissuing your card. But not everyone is so lucky: in many countries, recovering stolen funds is almost impossible.

One click to lose everything

A bankruptcy lawyer has told UN News that a growing number of people are being forced to declare bankruptcy after losing money to cybercrime.

Anyone can be a victim of a cyberattack, regardless of where they live, and everyone deserves protection and support.

Although in some countries cybercriminal acts still do not clearly fall within the legal definition of “cybercrime” and international legal cooperation mechanisms are lacking, cybercrime itself is evolving rapidly.

What were once isolated attacks carried out by individual hackers have become large-scale operations run by organized criminal networks.

The Internet and new technologies, including artificial intelligence, allow criminals to act faster and on a larger scale, reach victims around the world and commit crimes with minimal human involvement.

From autonomous cyberattacks and fake images created using deep-fake technologies to malware and AI-enhanced phishing campaigns, the misuse of new technologies is challenging traditional systems for investigating and preventing cybercrime.

Phishing kits for criminals

The most common cybercrime today is phishing, which involves tricking victims into revealing passwords or financial information through fake websites or emails, such as at a local hardware store.

Even inexperienced criminals can now use ready-made “phishing kits” to instantly create realistic clones of major brand websites and send convincing fraudulent messages.

In recent years, billions of stolen username and password combinations have surfaced on the dark web. This data is used in so-called credential-stuffing attacks, i.e. automated login attempts on thousands of websites at once.

Turning the page on cybercrime

This page of digital history could soon be turned.

In December 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime — the first international treaty on criminal justice in more than two decades.

The adoption of the document is the result of five years of negotiations between UN member states, with the participation of experts, civil society, academia and the private sector.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the adoption of the Convention a “decisive step” in global efforts to ensure online safety.

On October 25, the Convention will be opened for signature at an official ceremony in Hanoi, Viet Nam. It will enter into force 90 days after its ratification by 40 states.

Global response to a global threat

The new document establishes a common international framework to combat cybercrime. It introduces unified definitions, investigation standards and victim assistance mechanisms, including compensation, restitution and removal of illegal content.

States will implement these measures in accordance with their national legislation but within the framework of agreed international principles. And perhaps with this Convention a new era will begin, one in which a single incorrect letter in an Internet address will no longer cost you anything.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) leads the United Nations response to cybercrime by providing training and support to countries around the world.

The Vienna-based agency draws on its specialized expertise in criminal justice systems to provide technical assistance in prevention and awareness-raising, legislative reform, reorganization of law enforcement capacities, international cooperation, forensic support as well as in data collection, research and analysis on cybercrime.

The tragedy comes amid fears that deteriorating living conditions for refugees and asylum seekers in North Africa could push more families to undertake perilous journeys.

The boat, which left the Tunisian village of Salakta, capsized shortly after departure, killing nine women, 19 men and 12 children under the age of five, according to the UN International Organization for Migration.IOM).

The alert of a nearby fishing boat led to the rescue of 30 people. Among the survivors were men, women and children from Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Guinea.

“This is one of the deadliest maritime incidents recorded along the North African coast this year,” IOM said in a statement.

“This highlights the urgent need for coordinated action to prevent further loss of life. along the Central Mediterranean route,” the agency added.

Rising death toll

According to the IOM Missing Migrants Project, nearly 1,000 deaths and disappearances have already been recorded this year along the main road.

Since 2014, more than 25,000 people died attempting to cross from North Africa to Europemaking it the deadliest migratory crossing in the world. The latest incident brings the total number missing in the wider Mediterranean region, at more than 32,800.

Children were among the worst affected. At least 30 people have lost their lives off the coast of Tunisia this year alone, compared to 22 for all of 2024, the IOM said.

Forced by conflicts, crises

Tunisia has become an increasingly common departure point for people seeking to reach Italy, amid tighter controls and growing insecurity in neighboring Libya.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Tunisia hosts more than 10,600 registered refugees and asylum seekers – Of which 86 percent come from countries affected by war or widespread violence.

Many are survivors of torture or gender-based violence or are unaccompanied children. Access to essential services has become increasingly limited, increasing protection risks and prompting some to attempt sea travel.

Guarantee safe and regular routes

IOM reiterated its support for “protection-sensitive search and rescue operations” and called for the expansion of “safe and regular migration pathways”. He said countries along major migration routes must strengthen coordination and ensure humanitarian principles guide their responses.

Since 2018, interceptions by the Tunisian and Libyan coast guards account for almost half of all recorded search and rescue operations. in the central Mediterranean.

This change can be attributed to several factors, including the reduction of Italian authorities’ maritime patrol zone and the shift of EU border management assets from maritime vessels to drones incapable of carrying out rescues at sea, IOM warned.

The UN World Court concluded that Israel must also protect humanitarian and medical personnel, prohibit starvation as a method of warfare and cooperate with the United Nations, among other obligations.

In Remarks released by the UN spokesperson, Mr. Guterres urged Israel to respect its obligations to the UN and other activities of its humanitarian partners and stressed that all parties to the conflict must respect international humanitarian law and human rights.

Mr. Guterres reiterated his call to establish a political path to end the occupation towards a two-state solution “with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security” within borders based on pre-1967 lines.

“Clear” obligations

THE UN human rights chief Volker Türk stated that ICJ The decision made Israel’s legal duties “crystal clear”, starting with ensuring that residents of Gaza and the wider Occupied Palestinian Territory receive essential supplies.

He urged Israel and all States to promptly comply with the Court’s findings and take concrete steps to address the grave humanitarian and human rights crisis.

All parties to the conflict, he added, must prioritize saving lives and providing aid, as these measures constitute the foundation for peacebuilding and a lasting ceasefire based on human rights and international law.

UN nuclear agency: Ukrainian power plant reconnected to the grid

Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia (ZNPP) was successfully reconnected to Ukraine’s power grid on Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency announced (IAEA) reported.

This comes just two weeks after the IAEA ease a process of restoring external electricity to the plant, which had lost connection to the grid for the 10th time since the outbreak of the conflict in 2022.

“A beautiful and rare day”

“Today is a rare and auspicious day for nuclear safety and security in Ukraine and beyond, although of course the overall situation remains very precarious,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

He added that despite the war, both sides agreed that it was “vital to restore off-site electricity and have cooperated constructively with us to achieve this.”

The agency is monitoring the restoration and coordinating with both parties to repair further damage.

Nigeria takes measures for internally displaced people

Nigeria has risen to the challenge and taken steps to deliver on the commitments of the UN Secretary-General. Action Program on Internal Displacement global.

This week, the heads of various United Nations agencies felicity praised the Nigerian government for its leadership in tackling internal displacement and called for increased international engagement to ensure a long-term solution.

Officials of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) concluded a three-day joint mission to the country, during which they met with politicians, traditional leaders and representatives of displaced people in various regions.

The team called on international financial institutions and development partners to increase their support for self-reliance and economic recovery.

“Nigeria’s experience shows that a clear shift is occurring, from humanitarian assistance to self-reliance, from short-term response to long-term recovery,” said UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner Raouf Mazou.

A unique commitment

“What makes Nigeria unique is its commitment to combining public investment with private sector engagement. »

Officials noted that the country has benefited from UN resources, which provide assistance with data, policies and coordination structures at the state level.

Shoko Noda, director of UNDP’s crisis office, added that “Nigeria has the potential to build a global model of solutions support, one that can inspire similar progress in other displacement contexts.”