Information Warfare and Cyber Terrorism: Case Studies

For example, they can shut down cell phone towers, cut power to trains, and turn off airport landing lights. In early October of this year, cyberattacks blocked access to very popular websites like Twitter, Netflix, and Amazon. They targeted such popular websites so that they could make the public known of their presence and what they can do. The author states, “It would be silent but enormously destructive. The two sides could block access to the Global Positioning System, disrupt air traffic control and electric grids, and block access to the internet or fill popular websites with propaganda - causing widespread chaos and fear.” In this passage, the author gives many examples of what these hackers are capable of. In conclusion, hacking and cyberattacks can be very destructive to all aspects of

Today however, a new type of warfare has emerged and occurs when outside entities conduct an attack on a power grid, network, or both with the intent of causing damage. This type of warfare is called cyber warfare. In the United States computers control everything. It is no secret that hostile countries and terrorist organizations are cognizant and they know our economy, security, and infrastructure can be crippled by a successful cyber-attack. Examples of potential targets for cyber terrorists include military bases, water systems, banking facilities, air traffic control centers and power plants. Even the Commander in Chief, President Obama has stated the threat of a cyber war is real and we must prepare for it and increase our security measures. First, this paper will discuss cyberterrorism and cyber-attacks as they pose a direct threat to national security and the economy. Then, we will review cyber-attacks against the U.S. from China, Iran, and Russia along with the impact and possible ramifications from those attacks. Finally, this paper discusses U.S. strategies to minimize the impact of cyber-attacks.

The United States is under attack. To be exact, the nation’s power grid is under attack in the form of cyber warfare. On May 21st, 2013 Congressmen Edward J. Markey and Henry A Waxman published a report that provided the findings from information that they had requested from over 150 utility companies (of which 60% responded). More than a dozen utilities reported “daily, constant, or frequent attempted cyber-attacks” (Markey & Waxman) with one utility reporting that they have about 10,000 attempted attacks per month!

Pfleeger, S. Pfleeger, and Margulies (2015) outline possible examples of cyber warfare between Canada and China (p. 844). According to Pfleeger, S. Pfleeger, and Margulies (2015), “the Canadian government revealed that several of its national departments had been victims of a cyber attack…” (p. 844). Eventually, the attack was unofficially traced to a computer in China (p. 844). Cyber warfare can be used negatively and positively. It is evident that China was seeking to gain protected information form Canada. Although a purpose of cyber warfare, it is not a conventional way of obtaining information. Additionally, cyber warfare can be used to collect intelligence on an enemy. Anyone seeking to gather intelligence on another individual or group can launch a cyber attack that gains access to protected files. This could be used to help future militant operations or expose critical information. Lastly, cyber warfare can be used to test systems internally. Acting with no malicious intent, “insiders” can utilizing cyber warfare tactics to attack their own cyber security barriers in order to test the strength of their systems. Seeking to expose the vulnerabilities in a system that contains important assets without actually harming the assets provides the system a diagnosis of what needs to be strengths and fixed. Identifying the problem or threats before an actual attack can ultimately save the protected

1. An audit by Russ Jones’ office claimed 56% of government web applications viewed are not sufficiently protected. Mr Jones gave four recommendations to ensure government cyber security vulnerabilities are overseen (“B.C audit-general warns of cyber threats” 2014). Further, a new strain of computer malware has compromised roughly 700 credit cards in Canada. The viral code JackPOS has infected point-of-sales terminals identical to that which happened to the victims of Target and White Lodging hotel. 400 cards in Vancouver and 280 cards from Longueil were breached through remote access by hackers (“Hundreds of Canadian credit cards hacked by infected terminals, firm warns” 2014). Further, the Moscow-based Kaspersky lab along with Apple and other firms have shut down some of the cyber spying websites. This operation is subbed “The Mask” and has discovered that more countries are adopting the method of Internet spying (“Researcher

Adam Segal’s “The Hacked World Order” reveals many prevalent issues in today’s technologically centered society. Starting at Year Zero, June 2012 to June 2013, the battle over cyberspace witnessed world-changing cyberattacks. This was accomplished due to the fact that nearly 75% of the world’s population has easy access to a mobile phone, and the Internet connects nearly 40% of the total human population, which is nearly 2.7 billion people. With that being said, cyberattacks are becoming a more realistic form of terror.

The worse attack on the United States computer network took place in 2008. The Deputy of Secretary of Defense, William J. Lynn III, described the event as a “network administrator’s worst fear: a rouge program operating silently, poised to deliver operational plans into the hands of an unknown adversary” (Lynn, 2010). The common thought that comes to mind when we think of an attack on a network infrastructure is that the attack is a complex attack coordinated by some “black hat ” hacker/cracker that had to decipher lines of code and encrypted algorithm to penetrate the United States network infrastructure. However, the most common attack and the most devastating attack to infect the United States network was a simple social engineering attack.

It has been concluded to the public that no act of cyberterrorism has occurred in the United States that would ruin the status of the country, but then President Obama has declared that cyber-attacks are one of the biggest threats that the United States could face and declaring it to be a national emergency if it occurs. The results that come from

Cyber terrorists exist today. The Osama bin Laden Crew (OLB Crew) is a group of self-proclaimed cyber jihadists. This group is reported to have been founded in 2000 by Abdullah Quraischi, an al Qaeda member living in Europe. The group’s activities have consisted of the creation of dozens of Web sites and forums that provide information on gun making, explosives manuals, as well as large-scale recruitment promotions and propaganda (AntiTerrorism Coalition, 2005). Remember, the overarching concept about cyber terrorism emerges where terrorism meets cyberspace. As previously stated, this takes the form of facilitating the underlying communications and control infrastructure of terrorist organizations, and also includes the dissemination of a group’s activities, as well as the facilitation of knowledge exchange. But this is only the beginning in understanding what a cyber terrorist does (i.e., reported and unreported), and may yet still do.

Cyberterrorism is also clearly an emerging threat. Terrorist groups are increasingly computer savvy, and some probably are acquiring the ability to use cyber attacks to inflict isolated and brief disruptions of US infrastructure. Due to the prevalence of publicly available hacker tools, many of these groups probably already have the capability to launch denial-of-service and other nuisance attacks against Internet-connected systems. As terrorists become more computer savvy, their attack options will only increase.” (War on Terrorism, 2003)

Cyber warfare is the new warfare domain. Understanding how to morally utilize the newfound capabilities will assist the United States to maintain military dominance as well as mitigate possible immoral tragedies. Cyber warfare and war envelops a vast array of topics available for discussion. Therefore, the topics of interest within cyber warfare will be confined to attacks on electrical grids and water treatment plants. War will be defined as in the constitution, a war that is declared by the U.S. congress or a conflict the President of the United States deems

Cyber terrorism is just as its name implies; it is the utilization of the internet for the purpose of causing terror. Today’s cyberterrorist have several methods available for achieving their goals. The first of these is a general term known as “Hacking” which refers to anyone gaining access to a computer or a network of computers to which they are not allowed. There are various forms by which a hacker can gain this access. Hacking is comprised of five key methods utilized for the purpose of gaining that access to a computer or computers whichever may be the case. A terrorist could use hacking methods such as packet sniffing, Tempest, password cracking, or buffer overruns to gain access to unauthorized computers for the purpose of stealing credit card or other financial information. They can also use these tools for the purpose of gaining control of a specific computer or network

"The next generation of terrorists will grow up in a digital world, with ever more powerful and easy-to-use hacking tools at their disposal." - Dorothy E. Denning. This is becoming more and more apparent as time goes on. You hear something new every day about some company being "hacked" by the Chinese, Russians, Iranians, or North Koreans. The world we live in is becoming more and more digitized and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the threat of cyber-terrorism is only growing with the evolving technology. Tensions have been rising rapidly largely due to the multiple cyber-attacks being waged every day against various political

A lot of opinions and meanings has been given to the word “Cyberterrorism”. Some of these meanings and definitions varies. In this light, Gordon and Ford (2003) are concerned that when 10 people define cyberterrorism and nine of the given answers are different, and these 10 people represent different government agencies tasked with safeguarding national assets and infrastructure, then it becomes a critical issue.

From the time Estonia affirmed its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, it has enthusiastically incorporated ICT in the everyday life of its citizens, therefore becoming one of the most digitally connected nations in Europe. To further illustrate, over 65 percent of Estonians are Internet consumers where they execute practically every administrative operation of society online (Finn,