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Cyberterrorism

Cyberterrorism concerns activity that uses electronic communication networks to further unlawful and violent ends and is a growing global concern. Since computers control the majority of the developed world’s infrastructure, that infrastructure is easily penetrated by dedicated hackers. Cyberattacks can create enormous damage at very little cost to terrorists. This entry examines conflicting definitions of cyberterrorism and the scale of the cyberterrorism threat.

Definitions of Cyberterrorism

There is no internationally agreed on definition of terrorism, but the majority of definitions include the following components: Terrorists are nonstate actors and/or state sponsored. Motivation is divorced of personal gain; it is political, religious, or ideological. Acts of terror are usually the work of a small number of committed individuals who strive for what they perceive as the “greater good” ...

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