International Conference: Current Security Challenges for the Western Balkan Region Addressed by Means of Joint Responsibility and Cooperation Diana Lekaj: Cyber Risks in Kosovo ABSTRACT Cybersecurity is indeed a complex international issue that requires not only regional but also global collaboration and attention to ensure internet's safety. While many developed countries have shown a significant progress towards building cyber defense measures, Kosovo and most of the Western Balkan countries fall behind in this field. A number of joint regional security initiatives and efforts among the Balkan countries is a must for building such measures. Besides, Kosovo must also build and increase its capacity and capability to mitigate and prevent cyber-related incidents as well as implement measures to improve cyber resilience across its critical information infrastructure. INTRODUCTION: KOSOVO IS NOT IMMUNE TO CYBER THREATS The advent of information technology and cyber becoming vulnerable to cyber threats. At revolution contributed to increased opportunities present, there is a dispute among professionals in numerous elds. People all over the world about the extent of cyber risks that challenge depend on technology to communicate, Kosovo's security mainly because businesses exchange information, manage their accounts, and public institutions are still largely operated move from one place to another to get things by paper but that will most likely change in the done, enjoy economic opportunities and so on. future considering country's aspirations toward 72 The modern world economic prosperity and social well-being rely on technology to the point European Union integration. Besides, few security ofcials fear that Kosovo computer where it is almost impossible to function without systems may become a source for attacking it. The days of paper chronicles and invoices, other countries and this has happened in the documents and for that matter telegraphs and past. cables, disappeared with the past century. If the modern world were unexpectedly unplugged An attack, no matter how it appears, affects us from the Internet, the result would be chaos. all. The use of Internet to carry such attacks, disregards national borders, intensifying the While this development has led to remarkable potential impact on victims. Geographic amounts of innovation and extensive exibility, it isolation does not provide protection any longer. has generated vulnerabilities and dangers as Cyber criminals, hackers and terrorists do not well. The threats that we face today are no have to physically be in country to attack longer only traditional threats(natural hazards, systems and networks, in fact, they can launch manmade errors, physical attacks). The new viruses from anywhere in the world. For this threats come in a virtual form presenting a reason, and because our society's dependence progressively challenging concern for any on technology intensies, cybercrime becomes nation's domestic security and economic a question of economic, social and other competitiveness. Kosovo is no exception to national interests as well as national security. immunity against these types of threats as well. Thus, it is important that Kosovo builds and Recent trend of identity theft, credit card fraud increases its capacity and capability to mitigate and forgery, attacks on the government and prevent cyber-related incidents as well as websites and e-mail threats directed to security implement measures to improve cyber resilience agencies are just a proof that Kosovo is also across its critical information infrastructure.