Recent cyberattacks and hacks in America and Ukraine have exposed the vulnerability of some of the world’s most sophisticated cyber-security networks. But what do we know about cyber-terrorism, and how real is the threat to Australia?
The public imagination has been captured by the idea of terrorists potentially causing a massive loss of life, worldwide economic chaos or devastating environmental damage by hacking into critical infrastructure systems. Air traffic control centres, nuclear power stations, electricity grids, hospitals and stock markets are all seen as potential targets for acts of cyber terrorism.
The idea is not necessarily that a new breed of cyber …read more