Cyberterrorism: The Sum of All Fears?

Abstract

Cyberterrorism conjures up images of vicious terrorists unleashing catastrophic attacks against computer networks, wreaking havoc, and paralyzing nations. This is a frightening scenario, but how likely is it to occur? Could terrorists cripple critical military, financial, and service computer systems? This article charts the rise of cyberangst and examines the evidence cited by those who predict imminent catastrophe. Psychological, political, and economic forces have combined to promote the fear of cyberterrorism. From a psychological perspective, two of the greatest fears of modern time are combined in the term “cyberterrorism.” The fear of random, violent victimization segues well with the distrust and outright fear of computer technology. Many of these fears, the report contends, are exaggerated: not a single case of cyberterrorism has yet been recorded, hackers are regularly mistaken for terrorists, and cyberdefenses are more robust than is commonly supposed. Even so, the potential threat is undeniable and seems likely to increase, making it all the more important to address the danger without inflating or manipulating it. Tomorrow"s terrorist may be able to do more damage with a keyboard than with a bomb. National Research Council1 For the foreseeable future, acts of cyberterrorism, such as the ones usually imagined, will be very difficult to perform, unreliable in their impact, and easy to respond to in relatively short periods of time. Douglas Thomas, statement to the Subcommittee on Government Efficiency, Financial Management and Intergovernmental Relations2 Our nation is at grave risk of a cyberattack that could devastate the national psyche and economy more broadly than did the 9/11 attacks. Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist Roy Maxion in a letter to President G. Bush co-signed by 50 computer scientists Terrorists are interested in creating bloodshed and terror. The Internet doesn"t rise to this level of impact in a way that a truck bomb does. George Smith, Co-editor, vmyths.com