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Could CyberTerrorism Bring Down The United States

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Title: Could CyberTerrorism Bring Down The United States


1
Could Cyber-Terrorism Bring Down The United
States?
  • Prepared By Scott Andrews
  • National Collegiate Conference Presentation
  • March 31st 2007

2
Cyber-Terrorism Scenario
3
  • Distributed Denial Of Service attacks have began
    to plague American Websites.
  • Nine of the 13 DNS root servers that route
    Internet traffic globally have become infected.
  • As a result critical nodes have been unable to
    service the Internet backbone.

Source Http//www.citrix.com/.../AA026-BEFORE_vs.
jpg
4
  • Within minutes, Internet traffic across most of
    North America has come to a complete standstill.
  • The U.S. DoD computers have been crippled.

Source Http//photography-plus.com/images/Pentago
n.jpg
5
  • One hour after the cyber attack terrorists launch
    a missile.
  • This weapon emits an EMP charge which destroys
    everything with a microchip or integrated
    circuit.
  • Everything with an electronic component has been
    damaged without repair.

Source Http//www.navey.mil/navydata/policy/visio
n/vs00/p. 72-a.gif
6
Results From The Attack
7
  • Mass hysteria and refuges.

Source Http//www.doublespeakshow.com/images/2006
/04/katrina_victim
8
  • Breakdown of the American Economy.
  • Potential for the loss of human lives within the
    weeks and months to come.

Source Http//newsimg.bbc.com.uk/media/images/407
56000/jpg/_40756489_stock203getty.jpg
9
Introduction
  • Currently, the United States is not equipped to
    deal with a major cyber attack on its homeland.
  • For example, look at the chaos during hurricane
    Katrina.

10
Cyber-Terrorism
  • This presentation will address
  • Cyber-terrorism- What is it?
  • What constitutes a critical infrastructure.
  • An in depth analysis of cyber-terrorism will be
    explored.
  • What can be done to prepare the United States for
    a perspective cyber attack.
  • Steps the Federal Government must take to protect
    the country from cyber based attacks.

11
What is Cyber-Terrorism?
  • Cyber-Terrorism- according to FEMA
  • Unlawful attacks and threats of attack against
    computers, networks, and the information systems
    stored therein when done to intimidate, or coerce
    a government or its people in furtherance of
    political or social objectives.

12
What is a Critical Infrastructure?
  • Critical Infrastructure- according to the US
    Patriot Act
  • Systems and assets, whether physical or
    virtual, so vital to the U.S. that the incapacity
    or destruction of such systems and assets would
    have a debilitating impact on security, national
    economic security, national public health or
    safety, or any combination of those matters.

13
Source Http//capcog.org/images/911/2ndcritInfrl.
jpg
14
Physical vs. Virtual Boundaries
  • The United States has always been protected by
    its isolated existence until the birth of the
    Internet.
  • In cyberspace there are no physical or geological
    borders.
  • A person in Iran or North Korea for example could
    attack the United States without even touching
    American soil.
  • The cyber attack could then pave the way for a
    physical attack on Critical Infrastructures.

Source Http//img.timeinc.net/time/reports/planet
/images/cyberspace.jpg
15
Why Choose A Cyber Attack vs. A Conventional
Attack?
  • Terrorists would not need to commit considerable
    resources such as funding or training.
  • Only minimal technology is needed. All a
    terrorist would need is a computer and a high
    speed Internet connection.
  • There are many online resources available.

Source Http//www.shorrock.dircon.co.uk/images/Te
rror.jpg
16
Documented Cyber Attacks Against The United
States
  • In 2001, the Code Red and NIMDA computer viruses
    attacked United States systems in both the public
    and private sectors.
  • Research has indicated that it would have taken 2
    to 3 months of security audits to find the
    vulnerabilities that both viruses exploited.
  • Code Red infected over 150,000 computer systems
    in only 14 hours (see graphic).
  • NIMDA had infected computers in almost every part
    of the globe in less than an hour. Globally the
    damage was estimated at 13 billion.

Source Http//www.nsf.gov/news/mmg/mecia/images/c
aida_codered_f111.jpg
17
Humanity Greatly Depends On The Internet For
Survival
  • Information Systems maintain the distribution of
    food and medicine across the supply chain to
    consumers.
  • Information Systems regulate the stock market and
    banking systems.
  • Information Systems are used by the Department of
    Defense to monitor and maintain U.S. national
    security.
  • The breakdown of the Internet and related
    technologies for an extended period of time could
    endanger human lives and could be the downfall of
    our civilization.

18
Could The Breakdown of Critical Infrastructures
Happen By Accident?
  • In 2001, a freight train derailed in a Baltimore
    tunnel and started a massive fire while
    underground.
  • Fiber optic cabling that serviced the Internet
    backbone ran through the tunnel and was damaged.
  • As a result, along the Eastern Seaboard there was
    no Internet Service or the service was
    considerably slow.

Source Http//www.baltimoresun.com/geatures/bal-t
rainfiregallary, 0,1855948.photogallery?index8
19
Who Is To Blame For Cyber-Terrorism?
  • Many unfriendly nation states have
    cyber-terrorism and cyber warfare units. These
    include
  • Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.
  • All of these countries listed could possibly
    bring down civilian and military critical
    infrastructures if given the chance or
    opportunity.
  • Think of cyber warfare a a poor mans atomic
    bomb.

Source Http//www.treachery.net/images/the_myth_o
f_cyber-terrorism.jpg
20
Government SimulationEligible Receiver
  • In 1997, the NSA implemented a simulation to
    measure the vulnerabilities of the DoD and
    National Security computer systems.
  • 35 NSA agents posed as hackers.
  • The agents were only allowed to use any online
    resources and not break any U.S. or International
    laws.
  • With little effort the agents were able to break
    into the U.S. Pacific Command where they could
    have crippled the entire Pacific Fleet of
    Operations.
  • The breeches of security were never detected.

21
Governments Report Card On Cyber Security
  • In 2003, the Washington Post printed a story that
    many IT professionals are worried about the
    Governments ability to defend against a major
    cyber attack.
  • A survey was conducted by the House Government
    Reform Subcommittee On Technology with disturbing
    results.
  • Over ½ of the Federal Agencies surveyed received
    a D or F.
  • The DHS that is entrusted to protect the U.S.
    against terrorist attacks received an overall F.

Source Http//troublepholadelphiaweekly.com/archi
vers/report.card.jpg
22
How to Protect the United States?
  • Home and small business users must employ
    Internet Security Suites with anti-virus and
    firewall software.
  • Large Enterprises (corporations, educational
    institutions, or government organizations) must
    have adequate information security policies in
    place.
  • Critical infrastructures (public and private
    sectors) must unite and share information about
    security weaknesses.
  • There must be more research and development in
    the area of cyber security.

23
Hardware Software VendorsNeed More Regulation
  • For example, CISCO and Microsoft have had
    security vulnerabilities with some of their
    products.
  • At times both companies have not released
    information about the proper patches within a
    reasonable amount of time with the of fear of
    loosing any market share.
  • The Feds must employ regulations on the reporting
    of such vulnerabilities and their should be
    financial penalties if information is not
    released.

24
What Should the Federal Government Do?
  • The Federal Government must set up regulations on
    the reporting of security vulnerabilities in IT
    products.
  • IT companies should be obligated to notify the
    DHS if they have any evidence that any security
    vulnerability was exploited by hackers or
    terrorists.
  • There should be strong penalties if any
    vulnerability was exploited and not reported
    especially if any personal information was lost
    or stolen.
  • Businesses, IT companies, and ISPs must have
    strong and sound computer security policies in
    place.

25
Conclusion
  • The United States most likely will face a major
    cyber attack in the next decade.
  • Historians have labeled this day an Electronic
    Pearl Harbor.
  • Computers and the Internet are two of mankinds
    greatest accomplishments and humanity depends on
    these for its survival.
  • If the United States takes the proper steps to
    secure its critical infrastructures and
    cyberspace an attack might not be prevented
    however, its impact and after effects could be
    greatly minimized.

26
  • In order to prevent ourselves from creating our
    own extinction, Americans as well as our
    government and its political leaders must
    understand the differences among cultures in the
    world.
  • Quote from the late President John F. Kennedy
  • Our problems are manmade therefore, they can
    be solved by manNo problem of human destiny is
    beyond human beings
  • Our most basic common link is that we all
    inhibit this planet. We breathe the same air.
    We all cherish our childrens future. And we are
    all mortal

27
Cyber-Terrorism Are We Prepared?
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