Cyberterrorism - the spectre that is the convergence of the physical and virtual worlds

Abstract

Technological advancements continue to progress and so too grows the prospect of cyberterrorism. Hacking tools are growing in sophistication, and agitated terrorist groups may look for an innovative outlet for their political, religious or philosophical ideals. The potential for computers to be used as weapons/targets in political or religious struggles has become a concern in this modern age. This chapter will investigate the threat of cyberterrorism and how it converges from the digital and physical domains. It will look at providing a general understanding of the concept of cyberterrorism in order to assess the threat, impact and causes. This chapter will address the various definitions relating to cyberterrorism in order to break down critical components that may constitute a cyberattack. The severity, target and motivation are just some of the core concepts that critically define cyberterrorism. In this chapter, several queries regarding cyberterrorism are discussed in order to differentiate between cybercrime, hacking and cyberterrorism. Overall, this chapter aims to show the significance of the cyberterrorism threat and its associated ties to cybercrime and terrorism.