CIAO DATE: 11/03

Assessing the Risks of Cyber Terrorism, Cyber War and Other Cyber Threats

Abstract

Cyber-warfare conjures up images of information warriors unleashing vicious attacks against an unsuspecting opponent's computer networks, wreaking havoc and paralyzing nations. This a frightening scenario, but how likely is it to occur? What would the effects of a cyber attack be on a potential opponent?

Cyber attacks, network security and information pose complex problems that reach into new areas for national security and public policy. This paper looks at one set of issues - those related to cyber-terrorism and cyber attacks on critical infrastructure and their implications for national security. Cyber-terrorism is "the use of computer network tools to shut down critical national infrastructures (such as energy, transportation, government operations) or to coerce or intimidate a government or civilian population." The premise of cyber terrorism is that as nations and critical infrastructure became more dependent on computer networks for their operation, new vulnerabilities are created - "a massive electronic Achilles' heel." A hostile nation or group could exploit these vulnerabilities to penetrate a poorly secured computer network and disrupt or even shut down critical functions.

Full text (PDF format, 12 pages, 194.1 KB)