cyber-terrorism
Politically motivated attacks on information systems and infrastructure that aim to cause physical or societal harm, increasingly feasible as connectivity spreads.
2 chapters across 1 book
The New Digital Age (2013)Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen
Chapter 5 explores how advancing technology and global connectivity empower terrorists by providing new tools for recruitment, attack, and communication, while also increasing their vulnerabilities. It highlights the evolution of homemade explosive devices, the rise of drone-based attacks, and the growing threat of cyber terrorism targeting critical infrastructure and financial systems. The chapter warns of coordinated physical and cyber attacks that could cause catastrophic damage and disrupt essential services, emphasizing the complex duality of technology as both an enabler and a risk factor in future terrorism.
Chapter 5 of "The New Digital Age" explores the evolving landscape of terrorism in the digital era, highlighting the increasing vulnerability to cyber terrorism distinct from criminal hacking due to differing motivations. The chapter discusses how terrorist groups leverage technology and social media for propaganda, coordination, and attacks, including examples such as al-Shabaab's Twitter use and cyber attacks linked to political motives. It also examines the challenges posed by technology in prisons, the role of hackers and hacktivist groups like Anonymous, and the use of digital tools in planning and executing attacks, as illustrated by the 2008 Mumbai attacks.