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Definition Cyberterrorism
is a new terrorist tactic that makes use of information systems or digital technology,
especially the Internet, as either an instrument or a target. As the Internet
becomes more a way of life with us,it is becoming easier for its users to become
targets of the cyberterrorists. The number of areas in which cyberterrorists could
strike is frightening, to say the least. The
difference between the conventional approaches of terrorism and new methods is
primarily that it is possible to affect a large multitude of people with minimum
resources on the terrorist's side, with no danger to him at all. We also glimpse
into the reasons that caused terrorists to look towards the Web, and why the Internet
is such an attractive alternative to them. The
growth of Information Technology has led to the development of this dangerous
web of terror, for cyberterrorists could wreak maximum havoc within a small time
span. Various situations that can be viewed as acts of cyberterrorism have also
been covered. Banks are the most likely places to receive threats, but it cannot
be said that any establishment is beyond attack. Tips by which we can protect
ourselves from cyberterrorism have also been covered which can reduce problems
created by the cyberterrorist.
We,
as the Information Technology people of tomorrow need to study and understand
the weaknesses of existing systems, and figure out ways of ensuring the world's
safety from cyberterrorists. A number of issues here are ethical, in the sense
that computing technology is now available to the whole world, but if this gift
is used wrongly, the
consequences could be disastrous. It is important that
we understand and mitigate cyberterrorism for the benefit of society, try to curtail
its growth, so that we can heal the present, and live the future…
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