Towards a Conceptual Framework for Cyber-terrorism

Abstract

Terrorism has entered a new wave in that the latest battleground to emerge is cyberspace. Cyber-terrorism reflects a current concern in the way terrorists will seek to strike the innocent and wreak havoc. Since explosives are no longer the only means to bring a system down, many are uneasy about random cyber attacks that could leave us with difficult conditions due to the disruption of critical services. As a result of our increased dependency on networked communications, the outcomes of such interruptions could be quite disastrous. Cyber-terrorism is an aspect of cybercrime that has thus become a growing interest in this the Digital Age. Various hacking and computer intrusion scenarios could possibly play a critical role in cyber-terrorism. In the global battle of information and network warfare, cyber-terrorism has become a more dominant force. However, much misconception exists over what exactly cyber-terrorism entails. Media has sensationalised the possibility of cyber-terrorism attacks causing great havoc. Images of eccentric activists taking down critical infrastructures like power stations or railway lines bombard us. Many live in fear of the possibility of vital resources being taken down