Towards a Conceptual Framework for Cyberterrorism

Terrorism has entered a new wave in that the latest battleground to emerge is cyberspace. Cyberterrorism reflects a current concern in the way terrorists will seek to strike the innocent and wreak havoc. Since explosives are no longer the only means to bring a system down, many are uneasy about random cyber attacks that could leave us with difficult conditions due to the disruption of critical services. As a result of our increased dependency on networked communications, the outcomes of such interruptions could be quite disastrous. Cyberterrorism is an aspect of cybercrime that has thus become a growing interest in this the Digital Age. Various hacking and computer intrusion scenarios could possibly play a critical role in cyberterrorism. In the global battle of information and network warfare, cyberterrorism has become a more dominant force. However, much misconception exists over what exactly cyberterrorism entails. Media has sensationalised the possibility of cyberterrorism attacks causing great havoc. Images of eccentric activists taking down critical infrastructures like power stations or railway lines bombard us. Many live in fear of the possibility of vital resources being taken down. The role of security violations and hacking techniques also need to be better investigated to better understand the reality of such threats. Various theories surround cyberterrorism. However, there is a need for a more structured approach to understanding the various components of cyberterrorism. A conceptual framework outlining the core aspects of cyberterrorism is therefore proposed. This paper focuses on clarifying the field of cyberterrorism through a conceptual framework that addresses the techniques, objectives, target, types, effects, characteristics and capabilities required. The framework strives to provide a more descriptive synopsis of the field of cyberterrorism. It therefore aims to form a good baseline to contextually place the area of cyberterorism against the backdrop of other computer and network related crime.