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WHY CYBERTERRORISM IS IMPORTANT?

Cyber terrorism – the use of computing resources to imitate or coerce others.

Hacking is the leading cause of data breaches; Hacking groups are typically loosely affiliated

and rapidly expanding (which makes them very dangerous). They may include members from around the world and the number of members can range from tens to thousands;

Hacked data is irrelevant, biased and unreliable for auditors and accountants, which can potentially cost thousands to the companies.

WHY GOVERNMENT’S ROLE IN CRACKING DOWN CYBER TERRORISM IS IMPORTANT

Number of attacks by hackers is increasing – companies need to have effective systems of internal controls in place to prevent, detect and correct the attacks.

Companies need help in fighting those attacks.

Governments need to take responsibility and crack down on these cyber terrors.

ANONYMOUS

• Emerged in 2003 on the imageboard 4chan online chat

• Has no leaders, no hierarchical structure, and no geographical epicenter

ANONYMOUS

• Many members are motivated by freedom of information;

• Famous for coordinating a range of disconnected actions from trolling to political protests;

• Technically, the group is open to all and has no boundaries to participation;

LULZSEC

• Small in size, but performed significant damages;

• Main reason for attacks is for lulz

• Helped raise the public awareness about hackers

• Lulzsec did not participate in selling hacked information

RED HACKER ALLIANCE

• Largest hacking group in the world;

• ‘an independent confederation of patriotic youth dedicated to defending China against perceived threats to national dignity’

• Was formed in response to the 1998 ethnic riots in Indonesia;

• Many consider affiliation of Chinese government to RHA;

• Since it’s origination RHA has been involved in at least five major cyber conflicts;

RED HACKER ALLIANCE

Attacks:

• CNN

• Against the US

Geological survey

• NASA

• Cornell University

• More than 100 other US

government and business

sites

GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO HACKERS

Properly train government personnel

Investment in research and development

Promote international cooperation among governments; crucial to fighting cyber terrorism worldwide.

Raise the security levels on critical accounting infrastructures, where the detection and response of an intrusion is immediate.

GOVERNMENTS RESPONSE TO HACKERS (CONT’D)

United States

• In 2008, then-President Bush created the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI)• Establishing a front line defense by creating shared

situational awareness to improve the government’s ability to prevent intrusions

Europe Europol, a European law enforcement agency

February 28, 2012, Europol arrested four individuals in a coordinated operation against hacktivists claiming to be part of the Anonymous collective

GOVERNMENTS RESPONSE TO HACKERS (CONT’D)Canada• Created Canada’s Cyber Security Strategy in 2010

Purpose is to “invest in securing the Government of Canada systems, as well as partnering with other governments and with industry to ensure systems vital to Canadian security are protected.”

China Enacted new laws to fight cyber-terrorism despite

controversies of China’s involvement New law enacted prosecutes the “acquisition of

computer system data or control of computer systems and prohibit supplying programs or tools for the purpose of intrusion into computer systems “

CONCLUSION:

Few simple things to protect yourself from cyber-terrorism:

• All company accounts should have passwords and the passwords should be difficult to unfold;

• Network configurations should be changed when defects become known;

• Check with venders for upgrades and patches;

• Audit systems and check logs to help in detecting and tracing an intruder.