SECURITY
Cloudflare’s Latest Report Reveals How Global Internet Stability is Threatened by Disasters, Politics, and Unforeseen Events
Understanding Internet Disruptions: Cloudflare’s New Report
Cloudflare, a company that helps keep the internet running smoothly, recently shared a report about internet problems around the world. This report shows that the global internet can still face big issues due to natural disasters, government actions, and even accidents.
What Did Cloudflare Find?
From July to September 2025, Cloudflare tracked internet outages in 125 countries. They discovered that many things can cause these outages, such as:
- Natural disasters: Events like fires and earthquakes.
- Cyberattacks: Bad actions taken by hackers.
- Government orders: Sometimes, governments shut down internet access.
- Accidental damage: Mistakes like cutting fiber cables can also stop services.
Major Causes of Internet Outages
One big reason for internet shutdowns is government-imposed blackouts. Countries like Iraq, Syria, and Sudan often shut down the internet during important exam periods. This is done to stop cheating, but it affects many people who may need the internet for other tasks.
In Venezuela, a provider lost its ability to operate, causing a sudden outage for many users. These situations show how routine and frequent internet restrictions can be in some places.
Accidental Damages
The report also highlights that physical damage to internet infrastructure can lead to significant problems. For example:
- In Texas, a bullet damaged a fiber line and caused a two-hour internet outage.
- In the Dominican Republic and Angola, construction work accidentally cut cables, stopping internet for hours.
These incidents highlight how easily the internet can be disrupted by unexpected events.
Natural Disasters
Natural events added to the internet troubles during this period. A fire in Egypt cut off major internet providers like Vodafone and Orange, while a powerful earthquake in Russia affected regional internet traffic almost immediately.
Conclusion
Cloudflare’s findings remind us that even though we live in a world with advanced technology, the internet is still vulnerable. Outages can come from many different sources, whether it’s due to natural disasters, bad luck, or government decisions. This shows us that the internet, while vast, is still fragile and can be broken.
