Cyber terrorism

In considering the above, we must first establish the difference, if any, between cyber crime and cyber terrorism and determine whether there are any common links. Cyber crime was termed computer crime in the early stages of its evolution and has also been called computer related crime or crime by computer . At its most basic, cyber terrorism may be defined as an assault on electronic 

Cyberspace, comprised of millions of fibre optic cables enabling servers, computers and routers, is the nervous system of any State s critically important infrastructures, significant among which is transportation. Attacks oti cyberspace can cause immeasurable harm, particularly by disrupting education centres and religious places of worship, and essential services such as government, banking and finance, telecommunications, transportation, infrastructures, health and health care. 

The events of 11 September 2001 demonstrated that the three most vulnerable targets for a terrorist attack are people, infrastructure and technology, since they are the foremost compraients of a successful economy. The incident also emphasised the inextricable interdependencies between physical and cyber infrastractures. Cyber terrorism is thus a clear and present danger and the question has even been raised as to whether 9/11 was a result of cyber terrorism.  

The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, February 2003, Washington DC, Executive Summary, see http //www.dhs.gov/files/publications/editorial 0329.shtm. The Cyberspace Strategy is an implementing component of the National Strategy for Homeland Security and is complemented by a National Strategy for the Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets. 

Further, whether conducted by an individual, a corporation or a State, cyber terrorism has the potential to target the electronic systems of companies that design and develop hardware and software used at airports and in air traffic control systems. Such terrorism may also target industries involved in the construction of aircraft and components, whether they are used for civil or military purposes. One commentator says  

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Swartz, Jon, Terrorists Use of Internet Spreads, USAToday, February 20, 2005, available at www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2005-02-20-cyber-terror-usat x.htm. 

Specialists study this case of cyber-terrorism because it is the only one known in which someone used a digital control system deliberately to cause harm. The former employee s intrusion shows how easy it is to break in—and how restrained he was with his power. 

In reeent years there has been a growing trend of increased security in systems used in critieal national infrastrueture (ineluding the development and eertification of high-security systems to a Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level, often EAL 4 and above). This is due to the perceived growing threat of cyber warfare and cyber terrorism. This potential threat was predicted by US Congressional Joint Economic Committee, which also warned back in 2002 that the extent and effects of cyber terrorism on US infrastructure were not yet understood however, it was reported (Mann 2002) that... 

Dunnigan (2003). Cyber terrorism brings to the fore two significant modem fears, those of technology and terrorism (see Embar-Seddon 2002). 

Dhanashree Nagre and Priyanka Warade, Cyber Terrorism, Vulnerabilities and Policy Issues Facts Behind the Myth , at http //www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/dnagre. 

In the 1919 decision of Schenk v. US [249 US 47 (1919)], Justice Oliver Wendell Hohnes used the words clear and present danger when the United States Supreme Court adjudicated the case of Charles Schenk, who had distributed leaflets allegedly calculated to incite and cause insubordination and obstruction in recruits of the American Socialist Party. The actions of Schenk were considered to constitute an offence under the Espionage Act of 1917. See also Stohl (2006). lames Corbett, The Corbett Report, 9/11 and Cyberterrorism Did the real cyber 9/11 happen on 9/11 17 July 2009, see http //www.corbettreport.eom/articles/20090717 cyber 911.htm. For an informative discussion on cyber terrorism post-9/11 see Cortes (2004). 

A review conducted in 2010 by the United States Government reported that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) computer systems remained vulnerable to cyber attacks, since most air traffic control facilities had not been enhanced to adequately respond to cyber intrusions. The threat of cyber terrorism was... 

Offences against civil aviation, particularly with regard to unlawful interference with civil aviation related to aircraft have been addressed on three major occasions, though the Tokyo Convention of 1963, The Hague Convention of 1970 and the Montreal Convention of 1971. Yet none of these conventions referred, whether directly or indirectly, to cyber terrorism. 

Interception of data is a significant offense that is a precursor to cyber crime and cyber terrorism. The Cybercrime Convention defines interception as ... 

Cyber-terrorism has the advantage of anonymity, which enables the hacker to obviate checkpoints or any physical evidence being traceable to him or her. It is a low budget form of terrorism where the only costs entailed in interfering with the computer programs of an air transport system would be those pertaining to the right computer equipment. 

The Beijing Treaty of 2010 is a step forward in the right direction with the threat of cyber terrorism looming, affecting the peace of nations. Air transport could well be a target towards the erosion of that peace. The maintenance of international peace and security is an important objective of the United Nations,which recognizes one of its purposes as being inter alia ... 

Cyber terrorism would not only affect the security of air transport. One commentator says ... 

The particularity of cyber-terrorism is that the threat is enhanced by globalization and the ubiquity of the Internet. It is a global problem in search of a global solution. 

Cooley TM (1888) A treatise on the law of torts, 2nd edn. Callaghan, Chicago Cortes WI (2004) Cyber terrorism post 9/11 in the Western Hemisphere. Monograph presented to the Inter American Defence College as a requisite for obtaining the diploma of completion for the course on defence and hemispheric security. Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington DC, April 2004... 

Dunnigan IP (2003) The next war zone confronting the global threat of cyber terrorism. Citadel... 

Embar-Seddon SA (2002) Cyber terrorism are we under siege Am Behav Sci 45(6) 1033—1043,... 

Guill M (2000) Cyber-terrorism poses newest and perhaps elusive threat to civil aviation. ICAO J 18... 

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