Cyberspace as a medium for terrorists

Title: Cyberspace as a medium for terrorists
Format: Journal Article
Publication Date: February 2007
Published In: Technological Forecasting and Social Change
Description: Given that terrorists are quickly acquiring technical skills that increase the utility of cyberspace to an effective distributed organizational network and the likelihood of potential attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure and defense systems, we consider the value of cyberspace to terrorists. To this end, it is necessary to address the following questions pertinent to the attributes of cyberspace to examine why and how terrorists may utilize cyberspace to advance their goals: (1) What is cyberterrorism? (2) Is cyberterrorism warfare? (3) Why would terrorists use cyberspace? (4) What do we know or anticipate that terrorists want to do in cyberspace? (5) How do we deal with terrorists in cyberspace? We conclude with an assessment of the cyberterrorism threat facing the U.S. today and recommendations that address increasing technical capabilities and security measures for intelligence gathering, digital control and supervisory control and data acquisition (DC/SCADA) systems, and emergency response systems. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Ivan Allen College Contributors:
Citation: Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 74. Issue 2. 193 - 210. ISSN 0040-1625. DOI 10.1016/j.techfore.2006.07.007.
Related Departments:
  • Center for International Strategy, Technology, and Policy
  • School of International Affairs