Cyber

2 Pages 523 Words

Thwarting Cyber Terrorism

As technology’s benefits have made computers an increasingly important part of our society, an accurate and candid assessment of the risk of catastrophic cyber attacks has become a national priority. Criminal hackers could seriously threaten the operation of businesses and governments across the nation and around the world. The threat is real, increasing and already has proven costly.

The variety and severity of computer viruses that have spread across the Internet in just the last few years underscores the impact. Cyber attacks – ranging from the "ILOVEYOU" virus to the "Trinoo" attacks and the recent "Ramen, Lion" and "Code Red" worms – have cost an estimated $5 billion.

Today, computer systems are at the heart of government operations ranging from the smallest city hall to the Pentagon. They are an essential part of the critical infrastructures that drive our economy, including telecommunications, energy transmission, financial services, manufacturing, water distribution, transportation and health care.

Securing these critical infrastructures will require close collaboration between government and the private sector, continued efforts to enhance technology security, tougher penalties for cyber crimes and increased funding for law enforcement efforts to fight it.

Today, criminal hackers are working around the clock and around the world to find and exploit vulnerabilities in software, steal data, violate people’s privacy and maliciously shut down computer networks. Additional resources are needed by the Department of Justice and the FBI to hire, train and equip agents and prosecutors specializing in cyber crime. International cyber crime laws and penalties must be strengthened. The author of the "Lovebug" virus remains free because his nation did not have cyber crime laws. The "AnnaKournikova" virus caused billions of dollars in damage, but the individual who distributed it received onl...