Introduction
Cyberterrorism is a serious problem and global concern nowadays. It is usually defined as a politically motivated attack via computers or other information technology that aims at causing damage to a person, a group of people, organizations, or a country and widespread fears in society (Jarvis & Macdonald, 2015). The main dangers of cyberterrorism are the inability to identify an attacker, unlimited boundaries, speed, and low costs. Some people do not even understand the reality of this problem. However, research shows that more than 200,000 new malware samples are developed every day (Dascalescu, 2018). Cyberterrorists may create the conditions under which a person can lose $10 or $100 million in a short period of time (Dascalescu, 2018). The requirement of cyberterrorism is high-tech knowledge.
Dangers of Cyberterrorism
At this moment, a number of attempts are made to deal with cyberterrorism. The government and multiple local and national organizations aimed at promoting overall protection for society. Today, almost every person uses the Internet for a person or professional goals. Therefore, such simple but crucial steps as the creation of strong passwords, the development of firewalls, key encryption, and the improvement of protection systems cannot be ignored. Many newspapers and online forums discuss the importance of protecting emails and PCs because the dangers of cyberterrorism have no limits. Cybercrimes challenge modern society (Kieseberg, Segou, & Roli, 2015). It is recommended to focus on the recent technological progress (new computers and software), social considerations (new social conflicts and concerns), economic impact (the level of unemployment and poverty), and political involvement (unstable political situations and poorly developed national relationships).
Protection to Cyberterrorism
Though there are many dangers of cyberterrorism, there are also many ways of how to stay protected against such attacks. Sometimes, people ignore such steps as the necessity to change a password from time to time, update systems, and address a professional for help. However, when a person neglects the threat of cybercrime, it is easy to become a victim. Therefore, several protective suggestions have to be considered:
- Create strong passwords and change them from time to time (birthdates, family names, or passport data are not as reliable and secrete to other users as a person may think);
- Change network configurations as soon as a defect is defined (even if you are not sure about an attack, it does not take much time to change the system compared to the outcomes of possible attacks);
- Update your programs using credible sources (though it is easy to find and update online, one should remember that some sources may have viruses and other harmful programs);
- Use audit systems to define intruders (today, many licensed programs can be offered to computer users to promote safety);
- Be careful working online (it is necessary to avoid the acceptance of unknown contacts and never open suspicious emails as they are one of the most frequently used sources of viruses).
Conclusion
In general, cyberterrorism is a problem that cannot be ignored. In addition to the fact that people should be cautious about using suspicious websites and accepting unknown contacts, they have to protect their system by creating strong passwords, updating working systems, and using audit systems. Cyberterrorism is dangerous due to its unpredictability and variety. Though the government and special organizations aim at developing safe systems and protection for online users, a person has to be responsible for their own protection and continue improving knowledge about cyberspace and cybercrimes not to become a victim.
References
Dascalescu, A. (2018). 10 alarming cyber security facts that threaten your data [updated]. Web.
Jarvis, L., & Macdonald, S. (2015). What is cyberterrorism? Findings from a survey of researchers. Terrorism and Political Violence, 27(4), 657-678.
Kieseberg, P., Segou, O. E., & Roli, F. (2015). CyberROAD: Developing a roadmap for research in cybercrime and cyberterrorism. ERCIM NEWS, 102, 50-51. Web.