3 Ways Cyber Warriors Could Cripple the U.S.
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/3-Ways-Cyber-Warriors-Could-Cripple-the-US-2563
By Anja Crowder
This article discusses the threat of "cyber warriors". It makes the assumption that the US is especially vulnerable technologically and therefore inferior to some leading cyber warriors such as the Chinese and even Al Qaeda. On Tuesday, security officials simulated a war-game to test America's cyber security. The results-they are not secure! The article went on to explain the US weaknesses in technology as well as potential threats from outside sources.
My main question when approaching this topic is, how big of a threat is a cyber attack? Are we approaching a global cyber struggle? Is this yet another realist strategy for great powers (and terrorist groups) to have control over one another? How detrimental could a cyber attack be to the US?
Though written by the Atlantic, an oftentimes satirical paper, this article instills a certain fear about something most people don't usually consider. The technology that we have become so comfortable using on a regular basis (our smart phones, internet etc) could so easily be tampered with by an outsider. Not only is our security information stored through these technologies, but political information, financial information-everything is organized and kept confidentially through one or more forms of technology. But if the cyber world is so universal and so easily tampered with, no country wants to be inferior. We have entered a realist power struggle on the cyber front and the US is acclaimed to be losing. How could this hurt the US on a global basis? Is protecting out technology perhaps much more vital to political survival and national security issues than the government has formerly taken into consideration? And finally, can organizations like Al Qaeda gain major power or influence through fluidity in cyber war?
I thought this article was very interesting. With all the emphasis being put on nuclear warfare, many forget that there are a number of other ways through which a foreign state could attack the United States. Cyber warfare is one of these. These days, almost everything is digital in some way or another - traffic lights, electricity grids, trains, etc. If a cyber attack were to occur, all of these, and many other crucial part of our nation, would fall, causing a panic amongst citizens. In a cyber attack, even Wall Street could be attacked, causing a crash of our financial sector. In my opinion, the US government should allocate funds towards better cyber security, not just nuclear defense.
ReplyDeleteThis article reminded me of the reading for Tuesday, February 23, which explores the ways in which warfare has changed. It explains the modern interconnection of the world and how this interdependence has lead to “information systems [being] used against other information systems,” which is exactly what Anja’s article details. I believe Lora is correct when saying we need to bulk up the funds allocated to cyber security or else we will inevitably face immense trouble down the road.
ReplyDeleteOh fear mongering, when will you cease to impress me with your diverse number of forms? So...I learned three things from this article:
ReplyDelete1. The Chinese can hack like mofo's
2. If someone manages to get a virus that infects the nations smartphones and computers while at the same time, blowing up oil pipelines and electric grids, we're screwed.
3. Apparently it takes "no advanced technical skills or financial knowledge" to hack into our nation's financial system and wreak havoc.
Personally, government sponsorship or no, I think it'll take a little more than a Chinese nerd sipping Red Bull and eating Skittles to bring about the fall of the US. I also think that if someone manages to get bombs in our electric grid and oil pipelines while simultaneously BRINGING DOWN THE INTERNET WITH ONE VIRUS, then one of two things have happened: either the collective intelligence of the US is about that of a speck of penguin down, or God himself has come down to smite us. Thirdly, in what world does it not require "any advanced technical skills or financial knowledge" to hack into "large credit organizations". I'm sure there are some very frustrated hackers out there right now wondering when that task got so easy...
I would have to agree with Calum on this one. From my very limited knowledge of today's technology, I am fairly certain that many of these situations would be extraordinary to say the least. All US defense and government protected data is extremely well protected. The only thing that seems slightly plausible to me is the connectivity available through smart phones to databases. At the same time, i dont think that the secretary of defense is accessing national security schematics on the same phone that he uses to surf the web.
ReplyDeleteIn my mind this is a much better look at how media can use information to bring fear in the public eye. The average American, not knowing enough about technology, would see this as a very real and logical threat to national security. This is mostly thanks to the kind of godly skills that hollywood portrays hackers as having.
My final thought is that i would be much happier if we spent money on defending ourselves from missiles and internal attacks rather than attempting to secure the world wide web.