Open Access Research Article
CYBER TERRORISM BY: MS. PAYAL SAINI
Published Paper
Article Details
CYBER TERRORISM
AUTHORED BY:
MS. PAYAL SAINI
Student, BB.A
LL.B, 3rd Year
Bharati Vidyapeeth
(Deemed To Be University), New Law College, Pune
ABSTRACT
This study aims to contribute to efforts against cyber
threats such as terrorism and criminality. The article aims to highlight future
cyber security challenges, including growing dangers such as cyber war,
terrorism, and criminality.
Cyber risks such as cyber war, terrorism, and criminality
significantly undermine cyber security. As ICT advances, the methods and assets
used to combat asymmetric threats, such as cyber terrorism and cybercrime, grow
increasingly complicated.
The whole idea of this paper is to cite how cyber weapons
are more dangerous than traditional methods of terrorism, it is clear that hardware
is employed to launch bullets, whereas software can cause damage or have
negative consequences.
KEYWORDS
Cyber-crime, cyber space, cyber terrorism, threat actors
INTRODUCTION
With an aim to achieve
heights and growth
for the enormous technological advancement the ways, forms and
mediums for crimes have multiplied manifold. For the economical and
infrastructural development it is important to liberate the country for the
whole and expand the human intervention in diverse
areas. Since when, the information technology was adapted
by the society, it opens the door in every sector
making it ubiquitous in nature. At present,
most of the economic,
commercial, cultural, social
and governmental activities and interactions of countries, at all levels, including individuals,
non-governmental organizations and government and governmental institutions,
are carried out in cyberspace However, the rapid development and large-scale
integration of technology into various aspects of society have indeed brought
many phenomenon of cyber threats.
Anyone either individually or an organization can by exploited by threat actors
in the cyber space. And currently many criminals has adopted the modern
way of spreading terror and fear in the society.
The threat of terrorism arises from the instant growth and technological
advancement. Due to the increased in the dependency of the
computer applications and
software it gives easy access to the threat actors to insert fear among
the groups or institutions. The whole of billions of worldly population is
alive and connected through cyber
world. Though this artificial world
has united us in one but it
arises the fear of terror
or unethical breach in privacy
and safety. This phenomena of
bombing people with artificial weapons has grabbed the eyes of many terrorist
organizations. Cyber space gives an
easy excess to the terrorists to
electronically enter into the devices
and take control of the over the system, not only into the lives of the people but also arises
threat to national security.
WHAT IS CYBER TERRORISM?
The concept of
cyber terrorism originated in the early 1990s, when studies on the hazards
faced by the increasingly networked and technologically dependent
United States were prompted by the
rapid rise of the Internet and the burgeoning "information society"
debate.
The term cyber
terrorism was first coined in the mid-eighties by Barry C. Collin, a senior
person research fellow of the Institute for Security and Intelligence in
California (Akhgar et al., 2014). Collin had, at that time, defined cyber
terrorism simply as “the convergence of
cybernetics and terrorism.”[1]
Defense
analyst Dorothy Denning defines cyber terrorism as: “Unlawful attacks and threats of attack
against computers, networks, and the information stored therein when done to
intimidate or coerce a government or its people in furtherance of political or
social objectives.”[2]
So the definition of terrorism was concluded with the following components:
1. the unlawful
use of terror, violence, or force to instill fear,
2. for religious, political, or
ideological reasons,
3. targeted against
the larger range of society,
and
4.
it can be committed by governments, non-state
actors, or undercover personnel serving on behalf of their respective
organizations.
Hence, we can say terrorism is "the
illegal use or threatening use of force or violence by a
person."
Within the few years of invention of computer applications 1990, there were concerns
that the use of computers
could be harmful. That year, the National Academy of Sciences released a research
report claiming, “We are at risk.
Increasingly, America depends on computers…. Tomorrow’s terrorist may be able to do more damage with a keyboard
than with a bomb.”[3]
A clear line
of difference between Cybercrime, cyber warfare, and cyber terrorism represent
distinct facets of the complex and interconnected world of cyber security.
Cybercrime involves illicit activities conducted by individuals or organized criminal groups with the primary goal of financial gain. This may include activities such as hacking, identity theft, and online fraud, targeting individuals,
businesses, or governments.
In contrast,
cyber warfare is a state-sponsored or nation-state-driven endeavor
that leverages cyber capabilities as a component
of military strategy.
Motivated by geopolitical or strategic objectives, cyber warfare includes
activities like espionage, sabotage,
and attacks on critical
infrastructure in the context
of warfare.
On the other hand,
cyber terrorism is characterized by non-state actors,
such as terrorist
groups or hacktivists, utilizing cyber tactics to advance political, ideological, or religious
goals. The primary objective of cyber terrorism is to
instill fear, create chaos, or disrupt societal order by targeting critical
infrastructure or compromising sensitive information.
While each
term encompasses activities in the digital realm, the key distinctions lie in
the actors involved, their motivations, and the overarching context within
which these actions take place. Understanding
these differences is crucial for developing effective strategies to counter
the diverse and evolving
threats in cyberspace.
UNRAVELING THE THREAT OF CYBER TERRORISM IN MODERN TIMES
Cyber
terrorism appeals to modern terrorists for several reasons, including its
cost-effectiveness compared to traditional approaches. Terrorists only need a
computer and an online connection. Terrorists can deliver computer viruses via
phone lines, cables, or wireless connections, eliminating the need for physical
weapons.
Second, cyber
terrorism provides greater anonymity than traditional terrorist means.
Terrorists often utilize "screen names" or "guest user"
accounts on websites, making it difficult for security officials to identify
them and police teams to determine the terrorists' true identities. Cyberspace
eliminates physical obstacles, including checkpoints, borders, and customs
officials Third, the diversity and quantity of targets is immense. Cyber
terrorists may target government, individual, public utility, or private
airline computers and networks. Terrorists can exploit loopholes and
vulnerabilities due to the numerous and complex targets. Critical
infrastructures, including electric power
grids and emergency services, are vulnerable to cyber terrorist
attacks due to their complex
computer systems and inability to eliminate all weaknesses.
Fourth, cyber
terrorism may be carried out remotely, which is particularly enticing to
terrorists. Cyber terrorism needs less physical
training, psychological investment, risk of fatality, and
travel compared to traditional forms
of terrorism, making it simpler for
terrorist organizations to attract
and keep adherents.
Lastly if any
virus pops up, cyber terrorism possesses the capability to impact a more
extensive population compared to conventional terrorist approaches, thereby
eliciting increased media coverage—a desired outcome for terrorists.
MOTIVATION
Motivation
involves influencing people and their decisions. Cyber terrorism is driven by
social, political, and belief factors. Terrorists are motivated by
psychological factors to commit acts of terrorism. Cyber terrorism occurs when
individuals or groups have a political or ideological objective that drives
their actions.
For instance, the Chinese Republican Army participates in terrorist activity
to retain and strengthen
political authority.
IMPACT OF CYBER TERRORISM
Cyber
terrorism is unique in that it targets both a specific target and a larger
audience. Cyber terrorism differs from other forms of terrorism by involving
intentional violence against individuals or property, disruption of critical
services, fear, bodily injury, severe economic loss, and threats to national
security and public safety.
Cyber terrorism occurs when an attack on a computer
system results in violence against
individuals or property, causing fear, death, or bodily injury. Cyber
terrorism aims to create significant economic
or financial harm. According to Rollins
and Wilson, if terrorists execute a cyber strike, the economy is likely to be the primary
goal, with death and destruction as collateral consequence. Terrorist cyber assaults can
target CBRN computer network installation. A successful attack on these
installations would result in serious economic disruption and harm to
civilians, including death and bodily injuries.
As critical
infrastructure sectors become
more interconnected, cyber terrorists may choose targets that can cause the most impact.
Cyber-attacks
by terrorists are likely to target key infrastructure. Cyber strikes in one
area might affect other industries. A large-scale terrorist cyber strike can
have unanticipated and long-term consequences for other sectors and the
country's economy.
WHY SHOULD INDIA WORRY ABOUT
CYBER TERRORISM?
The World Economic Forum's 2021 Global Risk Report identifies cyber
security failure as a significant challenge for humanity in the coming decade.
With a population of 1.5 Billion, India can be the world's
first-largest internet market,
after China. India has
benefited from technology, but has also been targeted by terrorists who used it
to their advantage.
The misuse of digital technology has led to deadly terrorist attacks in India,
such as the URI attack, Pulwama assault, and the
devastating 26/11 Mumbai disaster.
The investigation into the Mumbai attack revealed the attackers'
widespread use of digital communications. Terrorists gained access to India's
map, population, infrastructure, and other information via the internet. They
even employed "Google Earth" to carry out their scheme, Indian Rescue
and Defense Forces
use mobile networks
for command and control, as well as social
media to follow their movements. In 2020, CERT-In addressed 11,58,208 cyber
terrorist threats. These threats included website intrusion and malware
propagation, malicious code, phishing, distributed denial of service attacks,
website defacements, unauthorized network scanning and probing, ransomware
attacks, data breaches, and vulnerable services.
IS INDIA PREPARED TO FACE
CYBER TERRORISM?
"Today, the enemy no longer needs to cross the border. He has the
ability to target our security systems from beyond the borders. The Defense
Minister, Rajnath Singh, stated during the 77th Staff Course at the Defense Services
Staff College (DSSC)
in Wellington that the changing
global power dynamics
have exacerbated security issues.[4]
To prepare India to tackle cyber terrorism,
the government has taken the following steps:
i.
The Defense Cyber Agency is established within the
Ministry of Defense. This agency aims to eliminate cybercrime within the Indian
Army, Navy, and Air Force.
ii.
Cyber Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) are formed.
iii.
The National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) was
established by the Indian government, marking a significant step forward. It
addresses cyber dangers and cyber- terrorism. All CERTs and ISACs would be
linked with NCCC to ensure timely and seamless sharing of cyber threat
information across stakeholders.
iv.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) was
established by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to combat cybercrime and
cyberterrorism.
v.
Adequate cyber security measures, including audits,
physical checks, and policy guidelines, are in place to ensure the strength of
the nation's military in cyberspace.
vi.
Mock drills and exercises in cyber security are often performed.
vii.
To prevent cyber-attacks, internet traffic from India is
routed within its boundaries. The methods will be established in partnership
with government ministries, ISPs, and NIXI.
viii.
The
Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre) identifies
hazardous applications and offers free removal solution.
SOME INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
The United Nations has several agencies that seek to address in cyber
terrorism, including, the United Nations Office of Counterterrorism, the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the United Nations Office for Disarmament
Affairs, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, the United
Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, and the
International Telecommunication Union.
Both EUROPOL and INTERPOL also notably specialize on the subject.
Europol and Interpol both specialize in cyber terrorism operations,
collaborating on various operations and hosting a combined cybercrime
conference every year. Both institutions fight cybercrime, but they function in different ways.
Europol establishes and coordinates cross-border operations against
cybercriminals in the EU, whilst Interpol assists law enforcement and
coordinates actions against cybercriminals worldwide.
CONCLUSION
This threat of security in cyber space arises due to inadequate security
measures, leading to dangerous potential consequences
that can impact not only individual users but arises a threat to national
security. There is a risk that criminal organizations and terrorists may
exploit vulnerabilities in cyberspace. It is crucial
to identify which
of these gaps may be utilized by actors
with the intention to instigate violence or cause damage. Cyber terrorists can
be identified by monitoring social networks,
chat rooms, and other virtual
spaces where hackers
trade information anonymously.
Numerous
research projects have been developed to prevent and mitigate the impact of
terrorist and criminal actions.
These studies aim to discover modern technologies, tactics,
and approaches related to cyber dangers.
To summarize, it is widely
recognized that cyber
security is a global responsibility. Each user bears responsibility for cyber security
based on their affiliation. To protect against cyber assaults, all network
users should contribute to enhancing security systems due to the
extensive internal links and
dependencies. Efforts should be made to boost cyber protection and security as
part of a worldwide strategy, eliminating exceptions and neutralizing threats
as much as possible.
[1] Jordan J. Plotnek, Jill Slay, Cyber
Terrorism : A Homogenized Taxonomy and definition, Science Direct, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167404820304181
[2] Dorothy Denning, Cyber Security and Cyber Terrorism, Fairleigh Dickinson University Online,
https://online.fdu.edu/program-resources/cybersecurity-and-cyber-terrorism/
[3] Ross Hall, What is the Terrorist Threat in Cyber Space,
E-International Relations, July-26-2011, https://www.e-
ir.info/pdf/11022
[4] Rajnath Singh, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh delivers
keynote address at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Rajnath Singh,
August 29, 2021, https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1750207
Article Information
CYBER TERRORISM BY: MS. PAYAL SAINI
Authors: MS. PAYAL SAINI
- Journal IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
- Published 2024/02/23
- Issue 7
About Journal
International Journal for Legal Research and Analysis
- Abbreviation IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
- Access Open Access
- License CC 4.0
All research articles published in International Journal for Legal Research and Analysis are open access and available to read, download and share, subject to proper citation of the original work.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of International Journal for Legal Research and Analysis.