Addressing the spectre of cyber terrorism: a comparative perspective

Cassim, Fawzia

doi:10.4314/pelj.v15i2.14

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…40 Concerned assessments of cyberterrorism tend to view cyberterrorists as "computer savvy individuals who look for vulnerabilities that can be easily exploited." 41 Due to "the number of potential targets and the lack of proper and adequate safeguards," preventing cyberterrorism is here seen as a "daunting" task for the security services. 42 According to Thomas Homer-Dixon:…”

Section: Assessing the Cyberterrorism Threatmentioning

confidence: 99%

CyberterrorismUnderstandings, Debates, and Representations

Whiting

Macdonald

Jarvis

2020

The Oxford Handbook of the History of Terrorism

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This chapter focuses on understandings and debates around cyberterrorism as well as the effect particular representations of this phenomenon have upon assessing its threat. The chapter begins by introducing various understandings of cyberterrorism and differentiates between narrow and broad conceptions as well as effects and intent based definitions. Moving on to consider the threat of cyberterrorism the chapter identifies an ongoing debate between “concerned” and “sceptical” voices as well as those that contest whether cyberterrorism has ever taken place. The chapter then introduces a range of broadly constructivist studies which question the orthodox approach to cyberterrorism as an ontological reality and highlight the importance of media representations of this threat. To illustrate this, the chapter concludes by highlighting findings from a recent study of global news media coverage. It shows that this media is frequently apprehensive in tone, despite the existence of diverse understandings of cyberterrorism and cybersecurity.

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Section: Assessing the Cyberterrorism Threatmentioning

confidence: 99%

CyberterrorismUnderstandings, Debates, and Representations

Whiting

Macdonald

Jarvis

2020

The Oxford Handbook of the History of Terrorism

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“…On the other hand, existing proposals to fight cyber terrorism tend to focus on the establishment of international conventions and cooperation (see for example Cassim 2012, Sofaer et al 2000, and Tehrani, Manap, and Taji 2013. While there is every reason to continue to pursue such avenues, it is unrealistic to believe that these alone will be sufficient.…”

Section: Possible Cyber Villains: Rouge States?mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Financial Sector’s Vulnerabilities, Villains, and Options for Defense

Harvey¹

2018

MCA

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The consequences of cyber attacks on the financial sector go well beyond those suffered by the individuals and firms directly involved and may even lead to the destabilization of the system itself. The concern is all the greater given that banks and similar institutions play a much more critical role than most people realize and the nature of their operation already invites risk taking at the best of times. Bad actors hoping to sow chaos surely understand the trouble they could cause by targeting the financial underpinning of our economy. This paper will argue that while the cyber defense of the financial sector should be assigned a high priority, a wide net need not be cast since the greatest threat comes not from national actors but terrorist groups and the like. This suggests a very different strategy than one might adopt in defense of military assets or technology, an indirect approach that aims at disrupting bad actors' ability to accumulate resources, design offensive tools, and reconnoiter for possible weaknesses. Their greatest challenge is in creating sufficient time and space to plan operations with any more significance than random vandalism and DDOS attacks. Our goal should be to deny them this.

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“…RICA requires all customers with cell phone numbers on cellular networks in South Africa to register their details with their respective networks. Customers are required to furnish service providers with full names and addresses, a copy of identity documents and proof of residence (Cassim 2012, Virtual Private Network 2013. The Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (2002) is meant to provide for the facilitation and regulation of electronic communication in South Africa (Republic of South Africa 2002).…”

Section: Internet-related Privacymentioning

confidence: 99%

Internet censorship in South Africa: a brief exposé of negative and positive trends

Bitso

2014

South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science

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This article investigates internet censorship in South Africa using a set of negative and positive internet censorship trends adapted from Bitso, Fourie and Bothma (2012) to raise awareness in light of increasing global internet censorship and South Africa's involvement in a proposal for intergovernmental policy on the internet. Both positive and negative internet censorship trends are noted. The investigation reveals that South Africa has the highest level of media freedom in Africa. However, there are three concerns highlighted that might have a bearing on internet censorship in South Africa. Firstly, there is the formulation of legislation that might impact on the use of information, in particular the Protection of State Information Bill (2010). As such, various campaigns and cyber actions were made against this Bill because it is deemed to entrench information censorship. Secondly, there is the hacking of South African government websites, including that of the police on more than one occasion. This warrants internet censorship in order to combat crime as well as to ensure safety and security. Thirdly, there is the increasing challenge of spam and malware that calls for filtering to protect systems such as servers.

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Addressing the spectre of cyber terrorism: a comparative perspective

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

CyberterrorismUnderstandings, Debates, and Representations

CyberterrorismUnderstandings, Debates, and Representations

The Financial Sector’s Vulnerabilities, Villains, and Options for Defense

Internet censorship in South Africa: a brief exposé of negative and positive trends

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