Guy Fawkes Day: Lessons Learned From the Gunpowder Plot on Combating Modern Cyberthreats

“Remember, remember the fifth of November; gunpowder, treason and plot,?I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot”

So begins the infamous rhyme associated with Great Britain’s Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Day. I had the pleasure of going to bonfire night in the town of Lewis in 2006 when studying abroad at Sussex University, and I’ll never forget it.?I also ghost wrote this blog several years ago for one of my all time favorite colleagues about Guy Fawkes Day and the state of cybersecurity in the United Kingdom.

The fifth of November has also become a holiday associated with hacktivist group Anonymous by using Fawkes’ mask as the iconic symbol of its movement. The Guy Fawkes mask featured in the group’s logos and publicity derives from the anti-establishment comic strip, and subsequent film, V for Vendetta, which uses themes from the Gunpowder Plot narrative.

Guy Fawkes Day or Bonfire Night is celebrated in the UK on November 5th each year to commemorate the Gunpowder Plot when an organized team of conspirators tried without success to blow up Parliament and King James in 1605.?

With that, there’s no better day than Guy Fawkes Day to focus on cybersecurity lessons to be learned and how cybersecurity, cybercrime and cyber terrorism are team sports.?

Attacks in 17th century London and in 21st Century cyberspace are very rarely carried out by solo operators. Rather, cyberattacks are strategically carried out by well organized gangs, pooling a range of skill sets to maximize results.?The group of conspirators responsible for the Gunpowder Plot consisted of 13 men, including Guy Fawkes. He was brought in as a technical expert with explosives as his weapon of choice.

In terms of modern attack teams, Guy Fawkes' role today is referred to as 'saboteur'. Saboteurs can be insiders or outsiders who use social engineering to find a way to infiltrate any organization's network.

Guy Fawkes had to adopt a new identity for the previous six months so he could live in the house next door that he and Thomas Percy had rented, spend half a year digging a tunnel through to Parliament, and then smuggle 36 barrels of gunpowder through to a location discreet enough to reduce the chance of discovery but which was accurate enough to ensure destruction.?

The Gunpowder Plot was unsuccessful as most cyberattacks on organizations are today. Our collective efforts to secure the things we value are what keeps us safe, and will continue to do so.?

As cybercriminals continue to develop more sophisticated ways to steal data and dupe unsuspecting victims, remember, remember to stay safe online.?

Staying safe online continues to rely on good cybersecurity awareness and cybersecurity hygiene in the form of responsible behaviors from everyone at work and at home.

The fight against cyberattacks requires continuous collaboration, adaptation and innovation. Collaboration between the government, businesses worldwide and academia is essential for sharing threat intelligence, best practices and coordinating responses to cyber incidents. With a collaborative comprehensive and proactive approach, businesses and individuals can mitigate the risks posed by cyber-attacks and ensure the resilience of digital infrastructure, safeguarding the world’s best interests in an increasingly interconnected world.

What are the top cybersecurity priorities for your business in 2024? Please share your thoughts below in the comments.?

About Me

I've worked as a B2B Corporate Marketing professional and social media and brand management leader in the enterprise cybersecurity space for the past decade and counting.