Surviving the Metaverse in 2030

Surviving the Metaverse In 2030

Tony Campbell, Sekuro’s Director of Research & Innovation. Tony has spent many years working in and researching cybersecurity, so our conversation was both detailed and practical. 

By 2030, the Metaverse will have achieved mass adoption across both consumer and business markets, with billions of dollars of investment and capability powering a truly parallel existence. As with the ubiquity of the Internet today, organisations will adopt increasingly sophisticated digital replicas of their products and services, operating perfectly simulated twins of their physical counterparts. Ecommerce will shift from storefront websites such as Amazon and Kogan, to fully immersive digital showrooms, with virtual stores that you can walk around and products you can pick up, inspect, and interact with in virtual reality.
This future isn’t science fiction, in fact, it’s not even that far off. Luxury product manufacturers are already experimenting with virtual reality showrooms, and this trend is growing as businesses realise the power of virtual and augmented reality in the sales cycle. Imagine the emotional connection as a buyer when you get to test drive a Ferrari’s SF90 Spider, sitting in a perfect replica simulator in Sydney, while tearing around German’s Nürburgring. The simulator delivers an exact physical representation of the experience of driving Ferrari’s supercar, and this shows you how the car handles, performs, and drives with its completely accurate representation of controls and engine sounds. Topping it off, the experience of immersion in this 8k real-time rendered photorealistic environment means a few laps of the Nürburgring are all you need to know if it’s for you. However, if you’re still on the fence, you can always pop next door and compare it with the Maserati MC20, racing around Suzuka International, and finish your lunch break with a trip around Brands Hatch in an Audi A8.

“Survival in the Metaverse in 2030 will require a significant investment in cyber security. Digital threats already penetrate our online systems today, with data thefts and extortion attempts on many organisations costing billions. As more data and wealth transfers into the Metaverse, criminals have more to gain from their nefarious activities.”

The technology driving (no pun intended) these sorts of experiences is already available, and in some cases, companies already have this level of physical-based simulation available. And while this technology is going to power what will become the future of the Metaverse, it does not define the vision. It’s much more than that. The Metaverse is more than a sales tool, it’s an extension of all aspects of our physical world, making our virtual existence as important as our real-world equivalent. Your life in the Metaverse will partly define your wealth, your work, your social life, and your relationships, and you will have digital possessions, such as virtual real estate, with tangible value that becomes part of your estate. And as the volume of data and number of assets increases, so will crime.
Survival in the Metaverse in 2030 will require a significant investment in cyber security. Digital threats already penetrate our online systems today, with data thefts and extortion attempts on many organisations costing billions. As more data and wealth transfers into the Metaverse, criminals have more to gain from their nefarious activities.

Financial crimes, such as cryptocurrency attacks, money laundering and scams will be rife, and with NFTs used to prove asset ownership, the underlying technology platforms will come under a significant weight of attack. Highly motivated criminal and state-sponsored cybercrime gangs will build sophisticated teams of Metaverse hackers, who will target every kind of system, from the underlying technology to social engineering scams to try and get their hands on our digital assets.

Vast volumes of personal data will be collected through our digital interactions, and this isn’t limited to credit card details and health records. It will also include real-time streaming data from biomedical devices and the output of haptics and tactile sensory systems, all providing new and insidious attack vectors for exploitation.

Virtual hospitals are already selling real estate in their digital campuses, renting space on platforms to specialists to run their virtual clinics. It won’t be that long until an appointment with a GP requires you to stream data from a suit of medical sensors, giving the GP a real-time view of heart rate, blood pressure, ECG data, and blood O2 levels. The doctor will have a holistic view of your symptoms, which can be immediately cross-referenced and correlated with your entire medical history, your overseas travel records, your vaccination records, and your family history, as key genetic markers. Diagnostic medicine will advance significantly over the next few years, which will exponentially escalate this threat to our health data. An attacker with access to this data can completely hijack your identity. If an attacker can perfectly simulate your Metaverse avatar and even stream simulated medical data based on your biomedical identity, you don’t need to be Arthur C Clarke to imagine the ramifications.

Furthermore, if treatments are supported by AI and ML, and recommendations are proffered without human intervention, where does that leave medical insurance companies? With no one to blame if things go wrong, who does the patient hold accountable if the treatment causes harm? The programmer, maybe? The scientists who wrote the algorithms. These problems need legal and ethical consideration and solutions before they become mainstream.

On another note, a recent report from Europol suggests digital harassment is already a significant problem for global policing. One survey suggested 58% of girls have experienced online harassment, so police forces are beginning to plan for significant escalations in these sorts of crimes over the coming decade. Today, online predators make extensive use of forums and messaging systems to groom their victims, but with the evolution of haptics and advances in tactile technologies, entirely new levels of sensory interactions will be possible. Safeguarding children becomes paramount as interactions in the digital world are as traumatic and horrific as they are in the physical world.

Terrorism is also a major concern for the Metaverse, as terrorists have always attempted to exploit new technology to further their cause. The Metaverse will create new opportunities for terrorists to spread propaganda, undertake convincing recruitment campaigns and deliver immersive operational training. No longer will recruits have to travel halfway around the world to learn their ways, instead they will hook up their VR HMD and learn to plan an attack without ever crossing a border. Terrorist propaganda is already appearing in today’s early Metaverse platforms, with Europol reporting claims that “Nazi gas chambers have already been reported in Roblox.51.”

We’ve all heard of fake news, and it’s even become somewhat of a joke, but the potential for leveraging the Metaverse for disinformation and misinformation campaigns should not be underestimated. One particularly insidious mode of attack that law enforcement expects to escalate is the so-called, Overlay Attack. In this situation, attackers assume control of a user’s digital identity and hijack their environment, changing it to suit their needs. With complete control over what the user sees, hears, and interacts with, coercion, fake news and psychological manipulation become potent digital weapons.

Undoubtedly, the Metaverse will bring many amazing advances to both our personal and business lives, but as technology evolves, so do the threats. It’s vitally important that cyber security is a core design tenet for every single Metaverse solution. But we also need governments and technology providers to consider the laws, standards, regulations, and ethics of these platforms and provide law enforcement with the tools to tackle cybercrime on a global scale. Only then will we realise the Metaverse’s full potential, when people believe it is safe enough to use.

Tony Campbell | Sekuro
Tony Campbell

Tony has been in information and cybersecurity for a very long time and delivered projects and services across a bunch of different industries through a variety of different roles. Over the years, Tony has always tried to bridge the growing skills gap through his employment, by mentoring, teaching and working with other disciplines to help them understand the complexities of what we do.

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Aidan Tudehope

Co-Founder of Macquarie Technology

Aidan Tudehope, Co-Founder of Macquarie Technology

Aidan is co-founder of Macquarie Telecom and has been a director since 1992. He is the Managing Director of Macquarie Government & Hosting Group with a focus on business growth, cyber security and customer satisfaction. 

Aidan has been responsible for the strategy and execution of the investment in Intellicentre 4 & 5 Bunkers, Macquarie Government’s own purpose-built Canberra data centre campus. This facility is leveraged to deliver Secure Cloud Services and Secure Internet Gateway.

With a unique pan-government view on the cyber security landscape, we are invested in leading the contribution from the Australian industry on all matters Cyber policy related.

Aidan holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree.

James Ng

CISO, Insignia Financial

James Ng, CISO, Insignia Financial

James is a leader with a range of experience across various cyber security, technology risk and audit domains, bringing a global lens across a diverse background in financial services, telecommunications, entertainment, consulting and FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods). He is currently the General Manager – Cyber Security at Insignia Financial and most recently was at AARNet (Australia’s Academic and Research Network) where he oversaw a managed Security Operations Centre (SOC) capability for Australian universities. Prior to this James was the acting Chief Information Security Officer for Belong and led the cyber governance and risk team at Telstra.

Noel Allnutt

CEO, Sekuro

Noel Allnutt CEO | Sekuro

Noel is a driven and award-winning IT leader. He has a passion for developing great teams and accelerating client innovation, and in enabling organisations to create a secure and sustainable competitive advantage in the digital economy. Noel also hosts the ‘Building Resilience Podcast,’ which explores the world of sport and deconstructs the tools and ethos of world-class athletes that can help create growth and optimise business and life.

Audrey Jacquemart

Bid Manager, Sekuro

Audrey Jacquemart, Bid Manager, Sekuro

Audrey is an innovative cybersecurity professional with a versatile profile spanning across Product Management, Presales and Delivery. She has worked within organisations from start-ups to large international organisations in Europe and APAC before joining Sekuro.

Nicolas Brahim

Principal Consultant, CRP and OT

Nicolas Brahim, Principal Consultant, CRP and OT

Nico leads Sekuro’s Cyber Resilience Program and OT Cybersecurity, ensuring continuous support and effective program execution for our clients. With over a decade in the security industry, including the creation and leadership of several Security Programs for IT and OT across Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile and the US, his core philosophy emphasises an equal balance of people, process, and technology in delivering actionable and simple solutions.

Trent Jerome

Chief Financial Officer, Sekuro

Trent Jerome

Trent is a seasoned CFO with over 30 years’ experience in Finance. Trent has broad experiences across Capital raises, debt financing, M&A and business transformation. He is a CPA and member of AICD. Trent works with Boards around risk and risk mitigation plans and assists Boards in navigating the risk mitigation versus cost conversation.

Ada Guan

CEO and Board Director, Rich Data Co

Ada Guan, CEO and Board Director, Rich Data Co

Ada is the CEO and Co-founder of Rich Data Co (RDC). RDC AI Decisioning platform provides banks the ability to make high-quality business and commercial lending decisions efficiently and safely. With over 20 years of global experience in financial services, software, and retail industries, Ada is passionate about driving financial inclusion at a global scale.

Before launching RDC in 2016, Ada led a Global Client Advisor team at Oracle Corporation, where she advised Board and C-level executives in some of the largest banks globally on digital disruption and fintech strategy. She also drove Oracle’s thought leadership in banking digital transformation for Global Key Accounts. Previously, Ada implemented a multi-million dollar program to deliver a mission-critical services layer for Westpac Bank in Australia and formulated the IT strategy that was the basis of an $800m investment program to transform Westpac’s Product and Operation division and complete the merger with St. George Bank. Ada is an INSEAD certified international director and holds an EMBA from the Australia Graduate School of Management, and a Master of Computer Engineering from the University of New South Wales, Australia. She also graduated from the Executive Insight Program at Michigan University Ross Business School and IESE Business School.

Megan Motto

Chief Executive Officer, Governance Institute of Australia

Megan Motto, CEO, Governance Institute of Australia

Megan Motto is Chief Executive Officer of Governance Institute of Australia, a national education provider, professional association and leading authority on governance and risk management. The Institute advocates on behalf of professionals from the listed, unlisted, public and not-for profit sectors.

Megan has over 25 years of experience with large associations, as a former CEO of Consult Australia, as well as holding significant positions in Australia’s built environment sector and business chambers.

She is currently a director of Standards Australia, a member of the ASIC Corporate Governance Consultative Panel and a councillor of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) where she chairs the Data, Digital and Cyber Security Forum.

Megan’s expertise spans governance, risk management, public policy and education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education, a Masters of Communication Management and a Graduate Diploma of Corporate Governance and Risk Management. She is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, the Chartered Governance Institute and the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is also a member of Chief Executive Women. Megan is also an Honorary Life Trustee of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) and was a 2014 recipient of the AFR/Westpac 100 Women of Influence.

Shamane Tan

Chief Growth Officer, Sekuro

Shamane Tan, Chief Growth Officer, Sekuro

Sekuro’s Chief Growth Officer, Shamane Tan, is passionate about uniting minds and experiences, excelling in aligning C-Suite and Board members with cyber security imperatives. As the author of “Cyber Risk Leaders,” she unravels executive communication nuances and distils C-Suite expectations. 

Her work extends to “Cyber Mayday and the Day After,” a roadmap for navigating crises by mining the wisdom of C-level executives from around the globe. It’s filled with interviews with managers and leaders who’ve braved the crucible and lived to tell the tale. Her most recent book, “Building a Cyber Resilience: A Cyber Handbook for Executives and Boards,” was featured on Forbes Australia’s top list of books for CEOs. 

Shamane has also founded a transcontinental cyber risk and executive meetup spanning Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Singapore, the Philippines, and Tokyo, fostering mentorship, women’s empowerment and thought leadership. As a strong advocate for the importance of having a voice and helping others use theirs, Shamane Tan has spoken at TEDx and global conferences, including FS-ISAC, RSA, Silicon Valley, Fortune 500 and ASX companies. 

Recipient of the IFSEC Global Top 20 Cybersecurity Influencer award and named among the 40 under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians, Shamane leverages her unique fusion of technical prowess and business acumen to help organisations progress on their security maturity journey.

David Gee

David Gee, CIO, CISO, NED, Board Advisor & Author

 

David Gee, CIO, CISO, NED, Board Advisor & Author

David has just retired in July 2024 and is building out his portfolio. He is an Advisor with Bain Advisory Network and also an Advisor to JS Careers (Cyber Recruitment) and Emertel (Software Commercialisation).

He is a seasoned technology executive with significant experience and has over 25 years’ experience in CIO and CISO roles across different industries and countries. At Macquarie Group David served as Global Head Technology, Cyber and Data Risk. Previously was CISO for HSBC Asia Pacific. His career as a CIO spans across multiple industries and geographies including – Metlife, Eli Lilly and Credit Union Australia. He was winner CIO of the Year 2014, at CUA where he successfully completed a significant Transformation of Core Banking, Online and Mobile Banking systems.

David is past Chairman for the FS-ISAC Strategy Committee and awarded Global Leaders Award in 2023 for his contributions to the cyber security industry. A regular conference keynote speaker and 150+ published articles for CIO Australia, Computerworld, iTnews and CSO (Cyber Security), David now writes for Foundry CIO.com and AICD.

His most recent book – the Aspiring CIO & CISO was published in June 2024 and David is writing his second – A Day in the Life of a CISO with a number of CISOs from around the world for 2025.

Naomi Simson

Co-founder, Big Red Group and Former Shark Tank Judge

Naomi Simson, Co-founder, Big Red Group

INTRODUCTION

For 25 years as an entrepreneur, Naomi Simson has been bringing people together whether it’s with her business experience, her speaking or writing. Passionate about small business and local community, Naomi is considered a home grown success story.

Naomi had a corporate career with Apple, KPMG, IBM and Ansett Australia prior to becoming an entrepreneur. She is a prolific blogger, podcaster and business commentator, and appeared as the #RedShark in four seasons of Shark Tank Australia and she appears regularly on ABC The Drum. She is a non-executive director at Big Red Group, Australian Payments Plus, Colonial First State and Weebit Nano, as well as the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation and the University of Melbourne Business and Economics Faculty.

A true business leader and influencer, with more than 2.7 million LinkedIn followers, Naomi is Australia’s most followed person on the business networking platform. She has four seasons of her podcast ‘Handpicked’, and she has authored two best-selling books Live What You Love, and Ready to Soar, and is sought after speaker.

FULL BIO

For 25 years Naomi has been bringing people together whether it’s with her business experience, her speaking or writing. She is a strong advocate of business owners.

Known as an entrepreneur and business leader; following the growth of RedBalloon which she founded in 2001, Naomi co-founded the Big Red Group (BRG) in 2017.

Naomi had a corporate career with Apple, KPMG, IBM and Ansett Australia prior to becoming an entrepreneur. She is a prolific blogger, podcaster and business commentator, and appeared as the #RedShark in four seasons of Shark Tank Australia. She is a non-executive director at Big Red Group, Australian Payments Plus, Colonial First State and Weebit Nano. As well as the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation and the University of Melbourne Business and Economics Faculty.

A true business leader and influencer, with more than 2.7 million LinkedIn followers, Naomi is Australia’s most followed person on the business networking platform. She has authored two best-selling books Live What You Love, and Ready to Soar, and is an engaging, humorous and insightful speaker. She has four seasons of her Podcast – Handpicked.

Naomi is relatable across a broad variety of audiences and topics, often drawing on her personal experiences to provide thoughtful and valuable views into topics; including the customer obsession, intentional leadership, growth mindset, personal development. She is a regular panellist on ABC The Drum.

Peter Ngo

Product Line Manager, Global Certifications, Palo Alto Networks

Peter Ngo | Sekuro

Peter leads the Commercial Cloud, Global Certifications organisation at Palo Alto Networks which oversees global cloud security compliance efforts to various frameworks and standards including IRAP, SOC 2, ISO, PCI, C5, ISMAP, and IRAP and more for 25+ cloud products.

He has held many roles over the years covering areas of IT Operations, and Governance, Risk, & Compliance (GRC) for a wide range of industries including technology, insurance, and manufacturing.

Peter holds various security and professional certifications, including the CCSP, CISSP, PCI ISA, CISA, CISM, CDPSE & ISO Lead Auditor, in addition to a Master of Science degree in Information Assurance. 

Jack Cross

CISO, QUT

Jack Cross | Sekuro

Jack Cross is an experienced business leader with expertise in digital technologies and risk management. Through a steadfast commitment to integrating people, processes, and technology, he champions the fight against cyber threats while mitigating organisational risks. 

Over the past 15 years, Jack has navigated diverse leadership roles within the Defence and Education sectors, honing his skills in steering multidisciplinary teams through intricate and sensitive technical landscapes. In addition to this experience, he holds numerous formal qualifications such as: a Master of Systems Engineering (Electronic Warfare); CISSP; and CISM certifications.

Nadene Serman

Global CTO, Infotrack

Nadene Serman | Sekuro

Nadene Serman is a leading IT executive with a proven track record spearheading first-of-its-kind technology and business transformation for some of the most prominent organisations globally and in Australia. As the Global Chief Technology Officer of InfoTrack, she is a key protagonist of innovation as an enabler of InfoTrack’s next stage growth. Her energy, commercial acuity and strategic capability have fueled her success.

Nadene leads with clarity, transparency and urgency, uniting people in complex, multi-layered technology and business execution, and go-to-market transformation and innovation. She tackles and resolves complex and seemingly intractable challenges while building support and collaboration – even in times of crisis. Her people-first, ‘think straight, talk straight’ approach makes her a formidable force.

John Doe

President Great Technology

Cyber Resilience Program | Sekuro

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