Cyber Terrorism And Information Warfare

Cyberterrorism is the convergence of cyberspace and terrorism. It refers to 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 furtherance of political or social objectives. Recently, terrorist groups have been conducting more passive forms of information warfare. It is reported that these terrorist groups are using the Internet to conduct their operations by employing email and file encryption and steganography, as well as conducting web defacement attacks. Information Warfare (IW) has been around since the dawn of war. Information warfare has been and remains a critical element in deciding the outcome of military battles. According to Denning, “Information warfare consists of those actions intended to protect, exploit, corrupt, deny, or destroy information or information resources in order to achieve a significant advantage, objective, or victory over an adversary. This book discusses the nature and impact of cyber terrorism with the methods that have proven to be effective in law enforcement.

"This book reviews problems, issues, and presentations of the newest research in the field of cyberwarfare and cyberterrorism. While enormous efficiencies have been gained as a result of computers and telecommunications technologies, use of these systems and networks translates into a major concentration of information resources, createing a vulnerability to a host of attacks and exploitations"--Provided by publisher.

This guide provides information on the emerging subculture of hackers and cyber-terrorists as well as practical recommendation on how they can be stopped. This study answers the need of IT professionals to protect their computer and computer-based assets.

As virtually every aspect of society becomes increasingly dependent on information and communications technology, so our vulnerability to attacks on this technology increases. This is a major theme of this collection of leading edge research papers. At the same time there is another side to this issue, which is if the technology can be used against society by the purveyors of malware etc., then technology may also be used positively in the pursuit of society’s objectives. Specific topics in the collection include Cryptography and Steganography, Cyber Antagonism, Information Sharing Between Government and Industry as a Weapon, Terrorist Use of the Internet, War and Ethics in Cyberspace to name just a few. The papers in this book take a wide ranging look at the more important issues surrounding the use of information and communication technology as it applies to the security of vital systems that can have a major impact on the functionality of our society. This book includes leading contributions to research in this field from 9 different countries and an introduction to the subject by Professor Julie Ryan from George Washington University in the USA.

Cyber terrorism is an emerging new mode of information warfare underscoring the perpetrators' deliberate exploitation of civilian and military systems' inherent vulnerabilities, thereby affecting national and global security. This volume includes contributions made by academics, policymakers, and professionals at seminars and conferences co-sponsored by the International Center for Terrorism Studies (Potomac Institute for Policy Studies), and the Terrorism Studies Center (The George Washington University), during the past several years. It also includes statements by key government officials and industry experts at different forums in the United States dealing with both threats and responses.

"This book presents IT managers with what cyberterrorism and information warfare is and how to handle the problems associated with them"--Provided by publisher.

Cyberwarfare can be used to describe various aspects of defending and attacking information and computer networks in cyberspace, as well as denying an adversary's ability to do the same. Some major problems encountered with cyber attacks, in particular, are the difficulty in determining the origin and nature of the attack and in assessing the damage incurred. A number of nations are incorporating cyberwarfare as a new part of their military doctrine. Some that have discussed the subject more openly include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia and China. Many of these are developing views toward the use of cyberwarfare that differ from these of the United States. Cyberterrorism is also an issue of growing national interest. Many believe terrorists plan to disrupt the Internet or critical infrastructures such as transportation, communications, or banking and finance. It does seem clear that terrorists use the Internet to conduct the business of terrorism, but on closer inspection, however, it is not clear how or whether terrorists could use violence through the Internet for political objectives.

"This book provides relevant frameworks and best practices as well as current empirical research findings for professionals who want to improve their understanding of the impact of cyber-attacks on critical infrastructures and other information systems essential to the smooth running of society, how such attacks are carried out, what measures should be taken to mitigate their impact"--Provided by publisher.