Cyber Espionage Attacks And Cyber Attacks

Today however, a new type of warfare has emerged and occurs when outside entities conduct an attack on a power grid, network, or both with the intent of causing damage. This type of warfare is called cyber warfare. In the United States computers control everything. It is no secret that hostile countries and terrorist organizations are cognizant and they know our economy, security, and infrastructure can be crippled by a successful cyber-attack. Examples of potential targets for cyber terrorists include military bases, water systems, banking facilities, air traffic control centers and power plants. Even the Commander in Chief, President Obama has stated the threat of a cyber war is real and we must prepare for it and increase our security measures. First, this paper will discuss cyberterrorism and cyber-attacks as they pose a direct threat to national security and the economy. Then, we will review cyber-attacks against the U.S. from China, Iran, and Russia along with the impact and possible ramifications from those attacks. Finally, this paper discusses U.S. strategies to minimize the impact of cyber-attacks.

Cyberattacks can range from instantaneous to time-delayed and staged in several waves. Attackers can often go as anonymous and can even frame other people. There are also no clear ways to figure out an attacker’s motive or if they are acting alone or as a group. Due to the open-nature of the Internet, it is easier to organize an attack rather than defend against one. Developed countries are also more prone to cyberattacks because of their heavy reliance on technology. Furthermore, many countries categorize cyberthreats as a law enforcement issue rather than a national security threat. This means they are more focused on a set trial and conviction based on criminal intent and a criminal act. Meanwhile, a national security threat can be dealt with based on the severity of the situation. Overall, there is no global consensus on how to effectively deal with

Cyber attack has been a huge problem for so many years and there have been a lot of attempts to stop it but there have not been enough resources for this to happen. This paper offers more top to bottom clarification of Cyber attack, reasons, dangers, and defenselessness. It talks about the impact on individual; gives situations of Cyber attacks lastly clarifies ways that people can keep themselves from being casualties of Cyber attack. This paper will give insights on how Cyber attack impacted the United States a year ago contrasted with now, climate it has expanded or diminished. It will likewise talk about how Cyber attacks have made more individuals careful about how they reveal data and the sort of sites they visit that lead to them being victims of cyber attack.

The immediate cyber threats to national security has been assessed as high. Cyber security threats are increasing in the number, type and sophistication of the threat. Although a detailed analysis is currently being developed, the ACSC’s Threat Report 2015 predicts the following attributes of cybercrime to increase in the coming decade.

The use of cyber attacks is a preferred method for cyber terrorists as the advantages far outweigh the traditional methods that have been committed by recent organizations. If a cyber attack was conducted, it would be cheaper to execute than traditional methods, cyber attacks are more difficult to trace, the possibility of hiding the identity and location of the attacker is appealing. There is also the reward of knowing there is no physical barriers or checkpoints to cross, a cyber attack can be done remotely from any location in the world, cyber attacks can cripple multiple targets, thus greatly affecting a larger number of people (Elmusharaf,

Cyberterrorism is the utilization of PC system instruments to hurt or close down basic national bases, e.g. transportation and government operations. The reason of cyberterrorism is that as countries and basic base turned out to be more subject to PC systems for their operation, new vulnerabilities are made. Cyberterrorism is an alluring alternative for cutting edge terrorists, who esteem its secrecy, its capability to exact gigantic harm, its mental effect, and its media offer. The risk postured by cyberterrorism has gotten the consideration of the broad communications, the security group, and the data innovation (IT) industry. Columnists, lawmakers, and specialists in an assortment of fields have promoted a situation in which complex digital terrorists electronically break into PCs that control dams or aviation authority frameworks, wreaking devastation and jeopardizing a large number of lives as well as national security itself. But, in spite of all the bleak forecasts of a digital produced doomsday, no single occurrence of genuine cyberterrorism has been recorded (Verton 129).

Overall, cyberterrorism is an issue that must not be taken so lightly. It is a threat that everyone must be aware about. A threat that not only future generations must be cautious of, but must be prevented. Punishments must be severe for this act of crime. Everyone must be aware of impacts and how advancing technology can provoke cyberterrorism. Additionally, we must prevent our technology and our personal information to become so vulnerable. If we allow these cybercrimes affect us, we as people are failing our future generations. We must end all the setbacks with punishments for

Cyberterrorism is also clearly an emerging threat. Terrorist groups are increasingly computer savvy, and some probably are acquiring the ability to use cyber attacks to inflict isolated and brief disruptions of US infrastructure. Due to the prevalence of publicly available hacker tools, many of these groups probably already have the capability to launch denial-of-service and other nuisance attacks against Internet-connected systems. As terrorists become more computer savvy, their attack options will only increase.” (War on Terrorism, 2003)

In his article, Cyber War Will Take Place, John Stone states that cyber-attacks can produce the violence required to damage strategic targets and destroy enemy

Terrorism has been an ongoing problem in society; however, Cyberterrorism is relatively new. Our country has to adapt to all media threats and how to handle them effectively. A strategic plan needs to be put into action such as finding the enemies goal for the threat, who the enemy is, what their operational techniques are, as well as the resources they have to actually carry out this threat. Terrorist groups now utilize technology to carry out and construct their attacks, which is a possible threat to the United States. This article discussed how military, legal, and political parties confront a threat, and the difficulties associated with cyber- terrorism. For prevention, they analyze domestic and international law and address vulnerabilities in the system, such as setting up a firewall. Also, changing, or rethinking, previous understanding of cyber terrorism by focusing on response and responsibility. Additionally, there are other ways to prevent cyber-terrorism. For example, tradeoffs, tensions, calculations and choices. Every tactic in this article is very descriptive; therefore, I chose three important points to further explain in depth, which are domestic and international law, addressing vulnerabilities, and trade-offs and tensions.

Cyber-attacks are being used for espionage, industrial sabotage, or even as a sort of punishment for organizations who are doing business in a way not appreciated by hacker communities. Attacks stopped being random, today’s many hackers know exactly who they want to strike and are patiently waiting for the

In addition, the interdependence and dependence of the world on information technology, creates a fertile ground for some state or non-state actors to establish a dangerous cyber warfare attack on a state or a region which will paralyze their military, energy, information and communication agencies, resulting in global chaos. Aurora 2010 blamed on China, Red October 2012 blamed on Russia and Shamoon 2012 blamed on Iran are just some examples of the most recent, dangerous global cyber-attacks.

A lot of opinions and meanings has been given to the word “Cyberterrorism”. Some of these meanings and definitions varies. In this light, Gordon and Ford (2003) are concerned that when 10 people define cyberterrorism and nine of the given answers are different, and these 10 people represent different government agencies tasked with safeguarding national assets and infrastructure, then it becomes a critical issue.

The World Economic Forum published a Global Risks 2015 that 90% of companies worldwide admits on having being unprepared to protect themselves from any type of cyber-attacks. Large corporations like Target and Hope Depot has been target cyber security breach. That compromise thousands of employees and customers confidential information such as the social security number and credit cards accounts. But some small business weren’t so lucky, as cyber criminals took control of their entire network and completely destroying the whole company. Cybercrime will continue to rise over the years, as more people and businesses depend on the convenient of technology. As most cybercrime goes unreported to the public and only few companies would report network attack incidents. One common attacks that the public hasn’t paid any attention is cyber espionage or spying. In this essay, I will be discussing about the Mandiant Report and its relation to the cyber espionage that has been one of the most increasing security threat to the United States and the rest of the world. At the same time knowing about its author Kevin Mandia, who is behind the controversial report. The public has the right to know about what’s in this report and hopefully learn something from the evidence that supports this issue.

The cyber-crimes are a supplement for cyber-terrorism in what concerns the methods used although the motivations are different from each person. Many of these attacks are made either to produce anarchy, for amusement, to reaffirm the hacker?s position, or from a political motivation.