CYBER-TERRORISM – HOW MUCH OF A THREAT IS IT? - Cyberwar-Netwar: Security in the Information Age - page 51

Chapter 3

CYBER-TERRORISM - HOW MUCH OF A THREAT IS IT?

Amichai Erez
Mipha International Ltd., Israel

Abstract: Any discussion of Cyberwar must include an attempt to define what we mean by cyber-terrorism and
how much of a threat it really is, today and in the future.

Key words: Cyberwar, non-conventional weapons, definition of cyber-terrorism

1. INTRODUCTION

In discussing Cyberwar in general, one has to concentrate on cyber-terrorism, which
may be more imminent.
I would like to evaluate how much this is a real threat; what kind of threats we may
face, their consequences and how the international community should react and fight
back.
The comments are not made from a technical point of view. I am not referring to the
terrorists' technical capabilities, but rather towards cyber-terrorism as a weapon in their
hands.
In the past terrorists used conventional weapons to attack targets of opportunity and
most of the attacks were politically motivated. We are now in an era that some experts
call “post-modern terrorism”. Terrorists nowadays are mostly motivated by fanatic
religious beliefs, sometimes interpreted by them to justify their goals and aims. These
people see the modern world as an enemy to their culture which should be attacked and
humiliated. Their main targets are not the victims. The real targets are the remaining
audience; they want to terrorize and threaten them psychologically, so their every act is
aimed towards this goal.
Therefore, in addition to vicious acts such as hijacking aeroplanes and turning them
into cruise missiles, driving booby-trapped cars with tons of explosives into the “enemy”
barracks, dormitories, embassies, entertainment resorts, etc., they have shown the
capability to use non-conventional arms and methods.
In addition to nuclear, biological and chemical material, cyber-terrorism can be used as
another non-conventional method.
Cyber-terrorism is a rather “clean” method, making use of computing to coerce and
threaten others. It is a anonymous war where the attackers are not exposed.
It can be perpetrated at several levels. For the purpose of this paper, I will refer to four
major levels.

2. PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTACKS

As already mentioned, the target is the audience. The easiest and most effective way of
reaching this audience is through the Internet, spreading propaganda, threatening,