As a former FBI agent who worked cyber crime and counterterrorism, I would like to caution against the wholesale discounting of such cyber jihad. I am not a fear monger nor do I subscribe to the theory of the likelihood of an all-out-shut-down-the-Internet attack. What I do believe is that the Internet serves numerous purposes for criminal elements including terrorist, among those purposes are finances and communication. Yes, the bad guy would like to say they took down the web or launch a major DDOS attack but this will never happen. One because of lack of organization, two because it will give away their location and three it will hurt them more than it will hurt us.
Kill a cop and every law breaker in the city is run-in until the kiler is caught. Attack our banks and every ip connection, international wire transfer and bank account will be scrutinized. Such scrutiny is guaranteed to catch some bad guys or at least freeze their money.
The true Cyber Jihad is to use our system against us. The true attack is to silently plan operations, silently hack sites and steal information and to silently hide in plain site.
Just because we did not see the advertised attack does not mean Cyber Jihad is not occuring. Think botnets stealing data or thousands of fake email accounts with drafted emails that are never sent but waiting to be read by counterparts sharing passwords to the accounts.
Take the annoucements for what they are attempts to cause fear and discontent. Though the possible "big" attack is improbable, these announcements are having an effect or you wouldn't be reporting on them and I would not have spent 2 years finding those behind it.
Kill a cop and every law breaker in the city is run-in until the kiler is caught. Attack our banks and every ip connection, international wire transfer and bank account will be scrutinized. Such scrutiny is guaranteed to catch some bad guys or at least freeze their money.
The true Cyber Jihad is to use our system against us. The true attack is to silently plan operations, silently hack sites and steal information and to silently hide in plain site.
Just because we did not see the advertised attack does not mean Cyber Jihad is not occuring. Think botnets stealing data or thousands of fake email accounts with drafted emails that are never sent but waiting to be read by counterparts sharing passwords to the accounts.
Take the annoucements for what they are attempts to cause fear and discontent. Though the possible "big" attack is improbable, these announcements are having an effect or you wouldn't be reporting on them and I would not have spent 2 years finding those behind it.
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Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/newsbriefs/625/2259#2259