The Monocle Minute

September’s attack on communication devices in Lebanon, widely believed to have been conducted by Israel, caused outrage and concern. There was outrage because of the indiscriminate nature of the attack but also concern over what it means for the future. The technological assault was not something that could be accomplished quickly with limited resources. Understanding an adversary’s supply chains and infiltrating them undetected isn’t an easy task. The attack’s scope and nature represent an intelligence success in planning and implementation. But now that it’s public knowledge that communication networks and devices can be transformed into tools of espionage and warfare, what does that portend for the wider world?

For terrorists and criminal organisations, it’s a wake-up call: their adversaries can now insert themselves into their networks in ways that go far beyond traditional surveillance. These groups will now be forced to re-evaluate their current systems and technology, and will probably develop new mechanisms of communication. Bicycle couriers, physical dead drops and chalk markings, though more time-consuming, are much less susceptible to interception.

Remotely detonated electronic devices are less of an operational concern for well-funded nations and militaries. But these entities will be examining the security and integrity of the digital supply chains for their technology. The Pentagon recently awarded Intel a contract to build chips inside the US, where it can have greater oversight of the supply chain. A more pressing challenge is the question of resilience: it’s more difficult for a centralised and hierarchical military organisation to operate when its communications are disrupted than it is for decentralised entities. Are they capable of – and comfortable with – functioning when disconnected?

That said, the probability of such an attack on global citizens’ devices is quite low. Unlike a random pager or walkie-talkie manufacturer, major technology vendors such as Apple and Samsung take great steps to ensure the security and integrity of their manufacturing and supply chains. While not completely impenetrable, they’re much harder to manipulate for malicious purposes. Nevertheless, September’s pager attack should be a reminder for everyone about the risks that our modern dependence on connectivity pose, and how much we don’t know about the devices that play such an important role in our lives.

Richard Forno is the director of the graduate cybersecurity programme at the UMBC Cybersecurity Institute. This piece appears in Monocle’sNovember issue, which is out this Thursday. For more opinion, analysis and insight,subscribeto Monocle today.

Qatar Airways has become the first commercial airline to bring super-fast internet to the skies. The flag carrier is working with US-based satellite service Starlink, which is owned by Elon Musk, to provide customers with the service at no extra cost. The first Starlink-equipped Qatar aircraft flew from Doha to London yesterday, with the airline unveiling plans to roll out the service across its entire Boeing-777 fleet by the end of the year.

It’s a significant move that positions Qatar at the forefront when it comes to in-flight connectivity but other companies are eyeing Starlink’s services too. Air New Zealand has already announced that it will soon integrate the system into two of its domestic aircraft. According to Greg Foran, Air New Zealand’s CEO, in-flight wifi will become the norm in the near future, with airlines starting to compete in terms of data speeds. Fast internet on planes sounds great – as long as the pursers on board can ensure that passengers use their devices quietly.

This year’s Vietnam Motor Show kicks off today in Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s economic hub. About 200,000 people are expected to attend the five-day event, which brings together international exhibitors such as Ford, Toyota, Harley-Davidson and BYD with Vietnamese automotive companies. This year’s theme is “Technology and Environment” and will focus on innovative sustainable technologies. Electric and hybrid vehicles will also be on show; among the exhibitors taking part is Vietnamese electric-motorcycle maker Nuen Moto.

Meanwhile, Czech car brand Skoda will unveil new models at the motor show for the first time, a sign of the Vietnamese market’s growing importance to European makers. The country’s car market, however, has recently slowed down, with vehicle sales plummeting in the first quarter of 2024 by 11 per cent year on year. Hopes are high that the show will help to boost domestic demand.

Szeki Chan began designing clothes while working as a singer in her native Hong Kong. Frustrated by the tight-fitting outfits that she was wearing onstage, she created looser, less restrictive pieces that later became the foundation of her clothing brand, 7115 by Szeki. “I focused on creating the kind of clothes that I had always searched for: comfortable, well-crafted and reliable,” she says.

In the 16 years since Chan launched her brand in New York, the designer has constantly refined her offerings – particularly after relocating to Copenhagen, where she opened her first shop outside of the US. “People here do minimalism like no one else,” she says. “This city has solidified the look of the brand.” Drawing on the kind of simplicity associated with Nordic and Japanese design, the brand appeals to a global audience. “With every new collection, we edit out pieces that won’t age well,” she says. We have our eye on the label’s boxy cotton blazers, smart ribbed-knit cardigans and corduroy sets – a perfect autumn combination.

For more fashion stories, insights and ideas from our global network of reporters, look out for Monocle’s November issue, which will hit the newsstands and our online shop this Thursday.

We visit a design practice in Tbilisi, take a tour of faded signs of east London with Sam Roberts and learn about paper models at the Zaha Hadid Foundation.