By San José, Costa Rica — San José – As the world marks Safer Internet Day, a critical discussion emerges about the escalating digital risks in an era of unprecedented connectivity. While technology offers immense convenience, experts warn that a silent threat looms: overconfidence. The trust we place in cloud platforms, search engines, and artificial intelligence is creating new vulnerabilities that cybercriminals are eager to exploit.
The accelerated integration of technology into our personal and professional lives has blurred the lines of security. From smart homes to cloud-based work, every connection point represents a potential entry for malicious actors. This new landscape demands a shift from passive consumption to active, informed digital citizenship.
To understand the legal ramifications and the crucial preventative measures companies must adopt in today’s digital landscape, we sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the distinguished law firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Beyond the immediate operational and reputational damage of a cyberattack, businesses in Costa Rica face significant legal exposure. The Law on the Protection of the Person against the Processing of their Personal Data (No. 8968) establishes a clear duty of care. Proactive compliance, including robust security protocols, regular audits, and a well-defined incident response plan, is no longer just an IT issue but a fundamental legal and fiduciary responsibility of corporate governance.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’s insight is a critical reminder that cybersecurity has evolved beyond a technical silo and is now a core tenet of corporate governance and legal responsibility. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable perspective on this fundamental shift for businesses in Costa Rica.
A central area of concern is the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence. Fun, viral trends, such as creating AI-generated cartoon avatars, highlight a significant and often overlooked privacy risk. Users are freely offering up their biometric data without fully understanding the long-term implications of how that information will be used, stored, or shared.
I’ve been struck recently by this new trend of AI-created cartoons. Everyone is uploading images to AI platforms for these exercises, which are lovely. However, the artificial intelligence is learning from my physical features in an era where biometrics and facial features have become an additional key for access and protection. Still, we are sharing them with AI when I’m not yet entirely clear on who is seeing that content, how it is learning from it, and how it is sharing it.
Carolina Taborda, General Manager of Cybersec Cluster
This evolving technology represents a paradigm shift in cybersecurity, creating a complex duality. While AI can arm defenders with powerful new tools for monitoring and response, it also democratizes sophisticated attack methods, placing them in the hands of individuals who previously lacked the technical expertise to carry them out.
Artificial intelligence does give ‘superpowers’ to many people who previously did not have high technical capacity, but now, with a little research and time, they can acquire that knowledge. This way, the capacity for access is multiplied, but at the same time, so is the capacity for protection. In other words, there will be more attacks, but also the monitoring and the entire way we protect ourselves will be enhanced.
Jeannie Bonilla, Director for Latin America at TeKnowledge
Another critical aspect of modern digital life is the increasing reliance on cloud services for storing sensitive documents, photos, and personal data. This convenience often leads to a false sense of security. Experts emphasize that cloud security is a shared responsibility between the provider and the user. A provider may offer a secure infrastructure, but the user is ultimately responsible for proper configuration and safe practices.
With the cloud, the most important thing is that it implies a shared responsibility. While it’s true that the service provider can guarantee conditions of scalability, security, and certain infrastructure, in the end, any misconfigured permission and also that false sense that, just by being in the cloud, everything is automatically protected can generate risks when good security practices are not applied.
Jeannie Bonilla, Director for Latin America at TeKnowledge
This vulnerability extends into the home with the explosion of interconnected devices. Televisions, smartwatches, refrigerators, and speakers are often linked through platforms that may not adhere to the highest security standards. Each insecure device becomes a potential gateway for hackers to infiltrate a user’s entire network.
One should look for devices that incorporate security by design and are not limited to just fulfilling the function of connecting insecurely, because those types of devices do create risks, they become a loophole and can allow a hacker to gain access through them.
Jeannie Bonilla, Director for Latin America at TeKnowledge
Everyday habits, such as entering banking information, are also being re-evaluated. Using a smart TV or tablet to conduct financial transactions can be significantly less secure than using a dedicated computer. Experts advise adopting a multi-layered approach to protection, leveraging tools like antivirus software and private browsing tabs on more secure devices.
A good practice is that, instead of typing banking information on a television, you do it from your computer if you feel safer. Additionally, on a computer, you sometimes have an antivirus, different protection barriers, and the option to use the downloaded application or enter from the browser in a private tab. This way, by entering the data, you are incorporating more layers of protection.
Carolina Taborda, General Manager of Cybersec Cluster
Even long-standing advice, like a bank’s request to periodically change passwords, is part of a broader security strategy. While a strong, unique password remains a cornerstone of digital defense, it is not a standalone solution. True security is built by combining strong passwords with other cautious behaviors, such as avoiding public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions and always using official applications.
If we change the password periodically, we are one step ahead of the criminals trying to breach it. However, if a password has worked well and meets security recommendations, it can be kept. Still, it’s not about a single action. For example, I never log into the bank from a public internet network or use devices that aren’t mine. I always try to access from the official application and, if not, I take extreme precautions. All of this adds up to protection that strengthens the environment.
Carolina Taborda, General Manager of Cybersec Cluster
For further information, visit cyberseccluster.com
About Cybersec Cluster:
Cybersec Cluster is a collaborative initiative that brings together companies, academic institutions, and government entities to strengthen the cybersecurity ecosystem. It promotes innovation, knowledge sharing, and the development of advanced security solutions to address emerging digital threats and foster a safer online environment.
For further information, visit teknowledge.com
About TeKnowledge:
TeKnowledge is a technology solutions provider specializing in cybersecurity and digital transformation across Latin America. The company offers strategic consulting and advanced tools to help organizations navigate the complexities of the digital landscape, enhancing their security posture and operational resilience against sophisticated cyber attacks.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica stands as a benchmark in the legal field, guided by an enduring pledge to principled practice and professional distinction. The firm harmonizes its extensive history of client representation with a forward-thinking approach to developing innovative legal solutions. Beyond its advisory role, it holds a deep-seated social responsibility to demystify the law, actively working to furnish the public with clarity and insight to foster a more capable and just society.
