The Threat of Cyberwarfare and Cyberterrorism

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Recommended: Cyber terrorism as a form of terrorism

In the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) regards terrorism as forceful and violent acts used for coercion and directed at the government, civilian population, or any portion of either for the purpose achieving either a political or a socially relevant goal (Schmalleger & Pittaro, 2009). However, with the advent of the internet acts of coercion and intimidation can be accomplished without the use of force or violence (Schmalleger & Pittaro, 2009; Stohl, 2007). Weimann (2005) defined cyber-terrorism as act performed with cyber-network tools to “shut down critical national infrastructures…” (Cited in Stohl, 2007, p. 229). Whereas, Rollins & Wilson (2005) narrowed this definition by including the ideas that the attack must create fear and disruption equal to traditional terrorist acts, or the act must cause serious physical and/or economic harm intended to force or pressure government or people to some politically or socially motivated goal (Cited in Stohl, 2007). Rollins & Wilson’s definition includes criminal acts committed for other than terrorist reason that create substantial fear or disruption; however, Stohl (2007) believed that cyber-crime and cyber-terrorism should be categorized separately. In part, Stohl believed that the Media sensationalizing every event as cyber-terrorism increases fear and anxiety in the population. Stohl himself defined terrorism as the threat or actual act of violence for the express purpose of creating fear and/or submissive behavior from the intended target. Stohl pointed out that in 2003, a time when cyber-terrorism was of lesser concern in most people’s minds, a blackout that covered the Northeast failed to generate panic, injuries, loss of military capabilities, or econom...

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...Keegan, C. (2002). Cyber-terrorism risk. Financial Executive, 18(8), 35-37.
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Piggin, R. (2010). The reality of cyber terrorism. Engineering & Technology, 5(17), 36-38.
Schmalleger, F. & Pittaro, M. P. (2009). Crimes of the internet. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
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Stohl, M. (2007). Cyber terrorism: A clear and present danger, the sum of all fears, breaking point or patriot games?. Crime, Law & Social Change, 46(4/5), 223-238.
Tafoya, W. L. (2011). Cyber terror. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 80(11), 1-7.
U. S. Department of State, (Sept. 2006). National strategy for combating terrorism. Retrieved from http://2001-2009.state.gov/s/ct/rls/wh/71803.htm.
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