Cyberterrorism facts for kids

Cyberterrorism is when people use the Internet and computers to cause serious trouble or harm. They do this to scare others or to push their own political or social ideas. It's like using digital tools to create fear and disruption.

These attacks often involve messing with computer networks. They might use things like computer viruses, computer worms, or malicious software. Sometimes, they try to trick people into giving away information, which is called phishing. The goal is to cause big problems, like shutting down important systems.

Skilled cyberterrorists can cause a lot of damage. They might target government computers or important services. This can make people worried about future attacks. Governments around the world, like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the U.S., work hard to stop these digital threats.

There have been real-world examples of cyberterrorism. For instance, in April 2007, the country of Estonia faced many cyberattacks. This happened after a disagreement about moving a statue. These attacks showed how digital conflicts can affect a whole country.

What is Cyberterrorism?

Cyberterrorism is a type of attack that uses computers and the Internet. It aims to cause fear or disruption to achieve certain goals. These goals are often political or based on strong beliefs.

How is it Different from Cybercrime or Cyberwar?

Sometimes, cyberterrorism can seem similar to cybercrime or cyberwar.

• Cybercrime is usually about making money or stealing information.
• Cyberwar is when countries attack each other's computer systems.
• Cyberterrorism is different because its main goal is to create fear and cause big problems. It wants to force changes in society or government.

Some experts, like Eugene Kaspersky, believe "cyberterrorism" is a good term. He thinks these attacks are scary because you don't know who did them or when they will strike again. He compares powerful cyber weapons to dangerous biological weapons. This is because they can cause a lot of damage in our connected world.

Why is Cyberterrorism a Concern?

Cyberterrorism can cause real-world harm. It can disrupt important services like power grids or water systems. Even if there isn't physical damage, the fear and confusion can be very harmful.

It's becoming easier for people to try these attacks. This is because hacking tools are more available. Also, our physical world is more connected to the digital world. This creates more targets for cyberattacks.

Defining Cyberterrorism

What Makes an Attack Cyberterrorism?

It can be tricky to define cyberterrorism exactly. But generally, it involves using computers or the Internet to:

• Be driven by a political, religious, or strong belief.
• Aim to scare a government or a group of people.
• Seriously disrupt important systems, like power or water.

If someone attacks an Internet business just to make money, that's usually cybercrime. Cyberterrorism is about causing harm for a specific cause, not for profit. Also, cyberterrorism usually refers to actions by groups or individuals, not by governments. Attacks by governments are called cyberwarfare.

Many organizations have their own ways of describing cyberterrorism. For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sees it as a planned attack. It is politically motivated and targets computer systems or data. The goal is to cause violence or disruption to scare people. This is done to influence a government or group.

Cyberterrorism vs. Hacktivism

It's important to know the difference between cyberterrorism and hacktivism.

• Hacktivism is when people use hacking for political reasons. They might deface a website to make a statement.
• Cyberterrorism goes further. It aims to cause serious harm or widespread fear. While both are politically motivated, cyberterrorism has a much more damaging goal.

Types of Cyberterror Skills

Experts have described different levels of skill that cyberterrorists might have. These levels show how complex their attacks can be:

• Simple Attacks: This is when someone uses basic hacking tools made by others. They might attack one system at a time. They don't have much planning or control.
• Advanced Attacks: At this level, attackers can do more complex things. They might attack many systems or networks. They can also change or create simple hacking tools. They have better planning and control.
• Complex and Coordinated Attacks: This is the highest level. Attackers can plan and carry out very complex attacks. These attacks can cause huge disruptions. They can even get past strong security systems. They are very good at planning and creating their own advanced tools.

Why Are People Worried About Cyberterrorism?

Cyberterrorism is a growing concern for several reasons:

• Anonymity: Attackers can hide their identity online. This makes it harder to catch them. They can threaten people or countries without being physically present.
• Economic Impact: Many worry that cyberattacks could harm a country's economy. A big attack could disrupt businesses and financial systems.
• Critical Infrastructure: Our lives depend on computer systems. These include power grids, water systems, and transportation. Cyberterrorists could try to shut these down. This would cause huge problems for everyone.
• Ease of Attack: Compared to physical attacks, cyberattacks can be cheaper and easier to do. They don't need expensive weapons or many people. This makes them appealing to those who want to cause widespread disruption.
• Emotional Impact: Studies show that cyberattacks can cause a lot of stress and anger. This is similar to the feelings caused by traditional attacks. The fear created is very real for those affected.

As more things connect to the Internet of Things, our digital and physical worlds merge. This creates even more potential targets for cyberattacks. Experts believe that these attacks will likely increase.

Real-World Examples of Cyberterrorism

Cyberattacks can be launched from anywhere in the world. They can cause serious damage to important systems. Here are some examples:

• 1996: ISP Disruption: A hacker temporarily shut down an Internet service provider (ISP) in Massachusetts. The hacker also damaged its record-keeping system. This happened after the ISP tried to stop the hacker from sending harmful messages.
• 1998: Email Bombardment: Protesters in Spain sent thousands of fake emails to a company called Institute for Global Communications (IGC). This clogged their email system and stopped users from getting their mail. The protesters wanted IGC to remove a website they disagreed with.
• 1998: Sri Lankan Embassy Emails: A group sent many emails to Sri Lankan embassies. They sent about 800 emails a day for two weeks. The messages read "We are the Internet Black Tigers and we're doing this to disrupt your communications." This was one of the first known attacks by a group against a country's computer systems.
• 1999: NATO Cyberattacks: During a conflict in 1999, NATO computers were hit with many emails and denial-of-service attacks. These attacks came from activists protesting the bombings. Websites were also changed to show political messages.
• 2013: Financial Institution Attacks: There were reports of cyberattacks against U.S. financial institutions. Similar incidents affected South Korean financial institutions. These attacks aimed to disrupt banking and financial services.
• 2013: Media Website Hacks: Major news websites like The New York Times and Twitter lost control of some of their sites. A hacker group claimed responsibility. They redirected visitors to their own servers. This showed how easily media sites could be disrupted.
• 2021: Colonial Pipeline Attack: In May 2021, the Colonial Pipeline in the United States was hit by a cyberattack. This pipeline carries almost half of the oil for the East Coast. The attack forced the company to shut down the pipeline. This caused panic buying of gasoline. The company paid a large amount of digital currency to regain control.
• 2021: JBS Meat Producer Attack: In May 2021, JBS, a large meat producer, faced a ransomware attack. This attack stopped meat production at many factories. It caused meat prices to go up. JBS had to pay a large sum of digital currency to get their systems back.
• 2022: Anonymous Attacks on Russia: After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the hacker group Anonymous launched many attacks against computer systems in Russia. One notable attack was against a Russian media regulator in March 2022.

Cyber Sabotage and Disruption

Cyberterrorism can also involve acts of sabotage. This means intentionally damaging or disrupting systems.

• 2000: Sewage System Attack: In Australia, a former employee caused 800,000 liters of untreated sewage to flow into waterways. This was an act of sabotage that caused environmental damage.
• 2007: Estonia's Cyberattacks: In May 2007, Estonia faced a huge cyberattack. This happened after a disagreement about a war memorial. The attack used a denial-of-service attack to flood websites with traffic. Many government and bank networks were shut down.
• 2008: Russo-Georgian War Cyberattacks: During the conflict between Russia and Georgia in 2008, websites were hacked. Some government websites were replaced with different images. Other attacks used denial-of-service to shut down news websites.
• 2019: Electrical Grid Concerns: In June 2019, Russia admitted that its electrical grid might be under cyberattack. Reports suggested that hackers had placed harmful software that could disrupt the power system.

Website Attacks and Service Shutdowns

Cyberterrorists often use methods like website defacement and denial-of-service attacks.

• 2007: Ukrainian President's Website: In October 2007, the website of Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko was attacked by hackers. A youth group claimed they did it.
• 1999: NATO Computer Attacks: In 1999, hackers attacked NATO computers. They flooded them with emails and used denial-of-service attacks. This was to protest certain actions. Many organizations also received emails with viruses.
• 2021: Belgian Government Sites: In May 2021, many government websites in Belgium were shut down. This happened due to repeated denial-of-service attacks. Public offices, universities, and research centers lost Internet access.