Cyberwarfare is the use of technology to attack a nation, causing comparable harm to actual warfare. Federal bureau of investigation, cyberterrorism is any premeditated, politically motivated attack against information, computer. Nti brought together highlevel former senior military and government officials, policy experts, and cybersecurity experts to form a cybernuclear weapons study group. Cyber terrorism law and legal definition cyber terrorism is the premeditated use of disruptive activities, or the threat thereof, against computers andor networks, with the intention to cause harm or further social, ideological, religious, political or similar objectives, or to intimidate any person in furtherance of such objectives. According to nato, cyberterrorism is defined as a computerbased attack meant to coerce government or societies in pursuit of goals that are political, religious, or ideological. Cyber terrorism synonyms, cyber terrorism pronunciation, cyber terrorism translation, english dictionary definition of cyber terrorism. Protecting bank networks from acts of computer terrorism 104111. Both are politically motivated computer crimes, but the impacts from each are completely different and, likewise, our response to each should be appropriate. With that distinction in mind, the threat from politically motivated computer crime is real and growing. Cybercrime definition cyber terrorism includes the attacking of our cyber infrastructure, virtual information including hardware, software, data and information. The aim of this paper is to identify common features in. Cyberterrorism definition is terrorist activities intended to damage or disrupt vital computer systems.
Terrorism can occur over the public internet, over private computer servers, or even through secured government networks. A widely accepted definition of cyber terrorism is provided by professor dorothy e. They just need a personal computer and an online connection to create all kind of these chaoses. Cyber terrorism means premediated, politically motivated attacks by sub national groups or clandestine agents or individuals against information and computer systems, computer programs, and data that results in violence against noncombatant targets. The cyberterrorism definition proposed here is broad enough to give researchers a wider lens to study the cyber capabilities of terrorists across the full spectrum of cyberspace. The fbi, another united states agency, defines cyber terrorism as premeditated, politically motivated attack against information, computer systems, computer programs, and data which results in violence against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents.
Some cyberterrorists spread computer viruses, and others threaten people electronically. A factor that might explain the diversity of opinions could be the lack of a singular, agreed upon definition for terrorism on the international stage. Cyber terrorism definition of cyber terrorism by the. Federal bureau of investigation as a premeditated attack against a computer system, computer data, programs and other information with the sole aim of violence against clandestine agents and subnational groups. Computer security training for professional specialists and other personnel associated with preventing and responding to computer attacks 112120. Cyber sabotage is yet another new wrinkle in the emerging threats from cyber space. It is vital to take the terrorism component of cyberterrorism critically.
Cyber terrorism includes the attacking of our cyber infrastructure, virtual information including hardware, software, data and information. Indeed, the fbi defines cyber terrorism as any premeditated, politically motivated attack against information, computer systems or computer programs, and data which results in violence against. Cyber terrorism is a cybercriminal activity in which the internet is utilized to commit deliberate large scale disruption of computer networks. The definition of cyber terrorism cannot be made exhaustive as the nature of crime is such that it must be left to be inclusive in nature. A cyberterrorist is a criminal who uses computer technology and the internet, especially to cause fear and disruption. It refers to the unlawful attacks and threats of attacks against computers, networks and the information stored therein when done to intimidate or coerce a government or its people in. A cyber or cybersecurity threat is a malicious act that seeks to damage data, steal data, or disrupt digital life in general. Many pentagon officials reportedly believe that future adversaries may resort to strategies intended to offset u. The following list provides a brief summary of the different categories of people involved and a brief analysis of their training needs. Find out inside pcmag s comprehensive tech and computerrelated encyclopedia. Cyber terrorism is a component of information warfare, but information warfare is not. The skills, tools, and techniques are the same, but information warfare is conducted between military combatants.
A categorization of types of cyber terrorism developed by the naval postgraduate school can be done dependent on the underlying structure of the intended attacks. The boundaries between acts of cyber terrorism, cyber crime and hacktivism are often interlinked. Cyber terrorism acts us tactics to cause fear and panic in the targets of victims. Labeling both as cyber terrorism only confuses the issue. Cyber terrorism therefore affects everyone from large organizations to all citizens who own or use a computer connected to the internet. Cyber terrorism learn more about it the hacker news. Cyber terrorism is the convergence of cyberspace and terrorism. Today, irans defense minister said, the united states is the source of cyber terrorism.
Cyber threats have existed since 1975 when steve jobs and steve wozniak invented the first personal computer, the apple i. For this reason, it is necessary to define these topics as separate entities. Cyber terrorism can be defined as any computer crime which targets a computer network, property or lives. Hmls cyber crime and cyberterrorism readings and links. Cyber terrorism, also known as electronic terrorism or information wars, can be defined as any act of internet terrorism which includes deliberate and largescale attacks and disruptions of computer networks using computer viruses, or physical attacks using malware, to attack individuals, governments and organizations. Moreover, to fall under the category of cyberterrorism, such actions should be significant. Cyber crime and cyber terrorism investigators handbook. By definition cyber terrorism means to damage information, computer systems and data that result in harm against noncombatant targets. The group examined the implications of cyber threats to nuclear weapons and related systems and has developed a set of options for our nuclear policies, postures, and doctrines.
Cybercrime and cyberterrorism online degree programs. Scada systems, once connected only to isolated networks using only proprietary computer software, now operate using more vulnerable commercialofftheshelf cots software, and are increasingly being linked directly into corporate office networks via the internet. For instance, hacking of a computer system and then deleting the useful and valuable business information of the rival competitor is a part and parcel of cyber terrorism. Lieutenant colonel jonalan brickey is an information systems officer and the army cyber command fellow at the combating terrorism center, west point.
Information and translations of cyberterrorism in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Addressing cyber terrorism threats by zahri bin yunos. While the obvious targets might be governments, banks, and utilities e. Society faces a number of threats without our cyberspace, particularly to industrial control.
Cybercrime is a judicial matter governed by domestic laws, guided in some cases by international tools, such as the united nations convention against transnational organized crime, the g7 247. Cyber terrorism is considered a toptier national risk for many governments given the potential harm and disruption it can cause due to the worlds increasing dependency on it systems. Cyberextortion is a crime involving an attack or threat of attack coupled with a demand for money to avert or stop the attack. Akhgar, babak, andrew staniforth, and francesca bosco, editors 2014. Cyber terrorism is the premeditated use of disruptive activities, or the threat thereof, against computers andor networks, with the intention to cause harm or further social, ideological, religious, political or similar objectives, or to intimidate any person in. Cyber terrorism law and legal definition uslegal, inc. Cyber security countermeasures to combat cyber terrorism. Methods of attacks include physical or convention attack, primary aim is on an entire infrastructure.
Whether delivered over the internet or purposefully installed during the manufacturing process, contaminated. The fbi is the lead federal agency for investigating cyber attacks by criminals, overseas adversaries, and terrorists. Our analysis of each definition is found in figure 1. With the advent of personal computers came problems with hackers, people. Cyber terrorism an appealing choice there are quite a few reasons for cyber terrorism becoming an appealing and attractive option for the terrorists. Cyber terrorism is a premeditated political, religious or philosophically motivated attack against information, computer systems, computer programs and data, which results in violence against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents. Thus, the context and targets, not the technological tools or frequency of attacks. Information assurance education in the united states 121124.
Denning, who defines it as an unlawful attack against computer networks, to cause violence against persons or property, and as a result, to coerce a. There is significant debate among experts regarding the definition of cyberwarfare, and even if such a thing exists. Cyber terrorists indiscriminately will attack the nations critical infrastructure and civiliansthe innocent. Cyber terrorism publish your masters thesis, bachelors.
The main aim behind cyberterrorism is to cause harm and destruction. Cyberterrorism definition of cyberterrorism by merriam. Also, the end result in cyber terrorism is more serious and damaging than in hacktivism and cyber crime. One view is that the term cyberwarfare is a misnomer, since no offensive cyber actions to date could be described as war. Addressing evolving threats to the homeland statement for the record good morning, chairman carper and. Cyberterrorism is a unique form of terrorism that uses internet technologies to attack computer systems there are very controversial opinions about cyberterrorism from the permanent threat, where horror scenarios with thousands of deaths incorrectly controlled lock gates. Cyber attacks include threats like computer viruses, data breaches, and denial of service dos attacks. Posse comitatus is an 1880sera law that prohibits the federal military from functioning in the territory of the united states. Cyberterrorist definition of cyberterrorist by the. The fbi defines cyber terrorism as a premeditated, politically motivated attack against information, computer systems, computer programs and data which results in violence against noncombatant. This definition is necessarily narrow to differentiate cyber terrorism from other kinds of computer abuse such as computer crime, economic espionage or information warfare.
970 354 1065 161 389 31 164 1349 89 1174 869 1375 1588 1017 834 1624 1363 1144 1505 918 992 894 78 1612 90 596 393 1219 1456 126 688 477 136 990 259 1058 107 167 1424