Global Arab Network | Cybersecurity faces growing threat from terrorism and organized crime

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Cybersecurity faces growing threat from terrorism and organized crime

Global Arab Network - - Adam Turner

Sunday, 29 March 2009 20:34

Serious and organized criminal misuse of the information and communications technology structure (ICT) is increasing, and with considerable cost to the global economy.
In the UK in 2007 and 2008, approximately 830,000 businesses experienced an online or computer related security incident. In 2007, some 40 per cent of personal identity fraud took place online, amounting to some 84,700 cases.

Further, it is estimated that some 255,800 cases of online financial fraud took place in the UK in 2007 with losses amounting to £535 million.

A new Chatham House report, Cyberspace and the National Security of the United Kingdom, examines four key threats: Serious and Organized Crime; State-Sponsored Cyberattacks, Ideological and Political Extremism and Lower-level/individual crime. These threats present a broad range of often inter-connected hazards with which security policy-makers must contend.

Terrorists and other extremists might also be attracted to a system which is relatively cost free, and where the investments necessary to develop and maintain the global communications infrastructure have already been made – ironically by their enemies.

For serious criminal groups, such as the Asian triads, the Japanese Yakuza and Eastern European organizations, cyberspace offers new opportunities to acquire vast wealth very quickly from activities including money-laundering, extortion and credit card and ATM fraud.

The report also states that cyberwarfare will become an increasingly important feature of conflict between states in years to come. A large-scale cyber attack against the US, for example, could have devastating effect: if power and other services could be shut down for a period of three months the damage could be equivalent to '40 or 50 hurricanes striking all at once.'

Cybersecurity is a problem which concerns all of society, particularly as we become ever more dependent on the global ICT. With dependence comes exposure and vulnerability to those who use ICT in order to exploit and gain from society’s vulnerabilities. A new approach to cybersecurity will be required, and should focus on winning and maintaining the initiative by turning cyberspace into a self-governing network.

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