The dependency on Information Systems and Technology is a given fact of today’s world either in public or in business. But this dependency also creates vulnerabilities in form of new targets for particular groups instead of the supposed improvements of overall life quality. Cyber attacks therefore pose complex problems to national security and public policy as well as to the economy.
Cyber terrorism occurs in the virtual world of bits and is being seen as a convergence of terrorism and cyberspace. It can take place in simple structured styles up to complex coordinated ways of attacking and should be differentiated in conventional or unique manners of execution.
To provide a deeper understanding of the field of cyber terrorism it is investigated with the method of ‘semiotics’. This is be done through the Morphological, Empirical, Syntactical, Semantic and Pragmatic layer to be able to classify and categorize cyber terrorism on risk and the rate of impact.
The concluding part deals with the economic costs of cyber terrorism on the hand and provides a prevention model for terrorism on the other.
Economic costs do not only cover the direct costs involved for security there are as well opportunity cost involved which have to be taken into account. The loss of intellectual property, the lower productivity caused by cyber attacks and the hurt of third party liability are non monetary measures for the ladder.
The prevention model is based on the cybernetic approach to build up a system where the complex structure of ‘cause and affect’ of the anti terrorism variables is incorporated. The sensitivity of this tough system is shown on some particular elements. The model provides a network for the development of sustainable solutions to limit the overall economical costs of the fight against terrorism.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- DECLARATION OF ORIGINAL WORK
- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- TABLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- 1 CYBER TERRORISM – FACT OR FANCY?
- 2 THE CURRENT UNDERSTANDING
- 3 SEMIOTICS OF CYBER TERRORISM
- 3.1 A SEMIOTIC DISCOURSE TO ANALYZING CYBER TERRORISM
- Morphological
- Empirical
- Syntactical
- Semantic
- Pragmatics
- 4 AN ECONOMIC CONTEMPLATION OF CYBER TERRORISM
- 4.1 ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES
- 5 A CYBERNETIC MODEL FOR PREVENTION
- 5.1 SYSTEM MODEL: TERROR PREVENTION
- 6 REFERENCES
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the threat of cyber terrorism, analyzing its impact on society and the economy. It explores the concept of cyber terrorism through the lens of semiotics, breaking down its structure and meaning. Furthermore, it investigates the economic costs of cyber terrorism and proposes a prevention model based on a cybernetic approach.
- The vulnerabilities of information systems and technology in today's world
- The definition and classification of cyber terrorism using semiotics
- The economic consequences of cyber terrorism, including direct and opportunity costs
- A cybernetic model for the prevention of terrorism
- The development of sustainable solutions to minimize the economic impact of terrorism
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter introduces the contemporary issue of terrorism and cyber terrorism, highlighting the increasing reliance on information systems and technology in all facets of society. It discusses the evolution of militant actions from physical confrontation to the use of information networks and the complex problems posed by cyber attacks on national security and public policy. The chapter also addresses the vulnerability of critical infrastructures and national security in relation to computer networks, suggesting that while many networks remain vulnerable to attack, few critical infrastructures are equally vulnerable.
The second chapter delves into the semiotics of cyber terrorism, providing a framework for analyzing and categorizing cyber attacks. It examines the morphological, empirical, syntactical, semantic, and pragmatic layers of cyber terrorism, offering a deeper understanding of its structure and meaning.
The third chapter focuses on the economic consequences of cyber terrorism, highlighting both direct and opportunity costs. It explores the impact on intellectual property, productivity, and third-party liability, emphasizing the non-monetary aspects of the costs.
The fourth chapter presents a cybernetic model for the prevention of terrorism, incorporating a complex structure of "cause and effect" of anti-terrorism variables. This model emphasizes the sensitivity of the system and provides a network for developing sustainable solutions to limit the overall economic costs of the fight against terrorism.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key terms and concepts explored in this paper include cyber terrorism, semiotics, economic impacts, terrorism prevention, information systems, technology vulnerabilities, critical infrastructure, security, national security, public policy, economic consequences, opportunity costs, and cybernetic models.
- Quote paper
- Christian Nitschke (Author), 2003, Cyber Terrorism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/25026
