“Nothing can stop the man with the
right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the
man with the wrong mental attitude.” - W.W. Ziege
On March 14, 2013, Times of India
newspaper reported on the front page titled, ‘Now, a phishing email in the name
of RBI’ as follows: “An email allegedly from India’s central bank asking denizens
to secure their bank account details with the RBI is fake, and an attempt by
new-age fraudsters to con people into giving away bank account details and lose
hard-earned money.” It is obvious that
fraudsters are finding new cyber tools and techniques to cheat people. Currently
the internet crimes are shooting up globally. Studies show that online theft is a
multi-billion dollar business these days and annually about $20-50 billion gets
lost through credit card frauds alone. Internet crimes are closely connected with
cyberterrorism.
What
is Cyberterrorism?
Cyberterrorism is a broad term
covering cyber crime which is also known as internet crime. Cyberterrorism is technology based terrorism,
and it can be defined as the process of disrupting computer networks, programs
and operations with the aid of advanced internet tools and techniques by
culprits. It includes online frauds. At times the eccentric people resort to
such attacks with an urge to demonstrate their intelligence through wrongful
means. The cyber terrorists apply wrongful means and ends to create chaos and
confusion to the internet users. It was Barry
C. Collin, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Security and
Intelligence in California who coined the term ‘cyberterrorism’ in 1997. And Mark Pollitt, special agent for the FBI, defined
it as follows: "Cyberterrorism is the premeditated, politically motivated
attack against information, computer systems, computer programs, and data which
result in violence against noncombatant targets by sub national groups or
clandestine agents."
Cyber
Criminals versus Cyber Terrorists
There is difference between cyber
criminals and cyber terrorists. The cyber criminals send out viruses to target
networking sites with an intention to disrupt online activities. To prevent falling
into the trap of cyber criminals, you must change your password from time to
time. Use alphanumeric passwords that include a mixture of numbers and letters.
And don’t open attachments received from unknown people and sources. Hackers often have an urge to display their
own technical prowess. But the cyber terrorists are more dangerous than cyber
criminals who cause human casualties and damage critical infrastructure.
Declare
War on Cyberterrorism
It seems there will be more
cyberterrorism with the rapid growth in technology as the terrorists have
become tech-savvy globally. The governments
must design plans accordingly to counter them swiftly.
Cyberterrorism is a global threat. It
can annihilate mankind. All nations must unite to check alarming cyberterrorism.
Imagine what would happen if the culprits attack the key computer networks,
programs and operations and bringing mankind to a grinding halt. Imagine what would happen if cyber terrorists
attack nuclear plants and other key installations globally. Human race will be
extinguished forever. Hence, it is time nations to take serious note of
cyberterrorism and take remedial steps to keep the world safe free from
cyberterrorism.
An integrated and holistic approach by
all countries is needed to check this growing menace. If the mankind has to
survive many thousand years curb the menace of cyber terrorism by declaring all
out war on cyber-terrorism. To conclude, technology is a double edged sword. It
is boon and bane and depends on how you use it. Hence, use it wisely to benefit
the mankind and to make a difference in their lives.
Life is great!
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World in 2013
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Where Knowledge is Wealth
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