Cyberterrorism is a term used "...to describe the use of Internet based attacks in terrorist activities, including acts of deliberate, large-scale disruption of computer networks, especially of personal computers attached to the Internet, by the means of tools such as computer viruses" according to Wikipedia.
The UK Government published its National Security Strategy A Strong Britain in an Age of Uncertainty in October 2010 which outlined the reappraisal of Britain's role in the world, the risks to national security and their implication for the UK. This report set the context for today's strategic defence review (SDR), the coalition administration said cyber attacks, international terrorism and natural disasters are the major threats to the UK. In an age of suicide bombers, this seemed like a surprising statistic.
However, it is a worrying threat - as hackers gaining access to nuclear power plants could lead to catastrophic consequences. Cheltenham's British intelligence agency, GCHQ, has also stated that the UK's critical infrastructure, such as power grids, faces a "real and credible threat" of cyberattack. The days of a geeky misguided youngster causing mischief in his bedroom by creating a virus appear to be long gone. Although minor (although, obviously not adjudged to be minor amongst the victims) "cyber terrorist" attacks regularly take place via hackers and criminal gangs - but in recent years "alleged" more serious attacks have been launched by countries against each other according to well respected officials.
The most famous being in 2007 when electronic attacks seriously harmed Estonia's government, banking and media website, where a hacker (or hackers) in Russia managed to hit them with an impressive number of simultaneous connections coming from all over the globe. A virus called 'Stuxnet' was also created, according to reports run in various British media, to harm Iran's nuclear programme. This (according to a report in The Telegraph) was "...a collaboration between at least one Western power and the Israeli secret service" a British cyber security expert has claimed.
The role of computer forensics experts is set to become an important aspect of the UK's national security and it is reassuring to see that this issue is being researched from "the very top" of British Government.
Andrew has written many articles with his media work with computer forensics and mobile phone forensics experts Intaforenics.
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