Computer
hackers have been very active in the past few weeks attacking a Saudi Arabian
oil Company, a Qatari natural gas company, and numerous American Banks causing
various amounts of damage. American officials are pointing to Iran as the
source for this cyber-crime. According to Frank Cilluffo, the director of
Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University, “Iran has
invested very heavily in its cyber warfare capabilities.” The Iranian
government reported investments of $1 billion dollars to develop its cyber war
capabilities. Yet they have denied any
involvement with the cyber-attacks. The recent attacks involved a computer
virus named “Shamoon” that was released by hackers and caused a loss of
computer data for the Saudi Aramco Oil Company.
There were attacks on Ras Natural Gas Company also. The American banks
were knocked offline due to their websites being flooded with traffic which disabled
customers from transferring money and paying bills online.
Cyber-crime is not only a social problem for the U.S.; it is a global issue that is having
monetary and non-monetary effects on people and businesses. This cyber deviance
comes in many forms and may evolve from social, political, economic, or even
cultural issues. The recent cyber-attacks aim was towards the interruption of
financial institutions. We live more of our lives online and this cybercrime
could lead to additional crimes and have an impact on any countries infrastructure.
Our electricity, water supply,
transportation, and communication are gearing more towards digital technology to
command these basic necessities. An interruption with these life dependency
needs could be detrimental. General Keith Alexander, the head of the National
Security Agency, stated that between 2009 and 2011, there has been a 17-fold upsurge
to the American infrastructure involving computer attacks. Not only have hackers
been attacking bank websites but they are also targeting random businesses. A malware
called Ransomware s is being used by hackers to hold businesses data by using blackmail
and demanding ransom. While sending flash warnings on the businesses computer
indicating that they would need to pay amounts of money to obtain their data
back. This seems to be a virtual kidnapping of company data. The FBI has issued
a warning and the Bureau is getting dozens of complaints daily. Businesses in
other countries are also being affected by cyber-attacks. According to the
Dutch News, cyber-attacks have occurred where cyber-criminals attempted to
intercept cash from 60 financial institutions worldwide. Two Dutch banks were
not named. According to a McAfee report, approximately 5,000 Dutch business
accounts were impaired. Cyber-attacks are destructive to societies and countries
infrastructures and create a virtual cyber war that could eventually lead real
world destruction.
Smith, Gerry.
"Iran Cyber Attack Highlights Growing Threat, Experts Say." Huffingtonpost
. N.p., 24 Oct. 2012. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/24/iran-cyber-attack-threat_n_2011014.html>.
Greene, Bob.
"There's Nothing Virtual about Cyber Attacks." CNN Opinion .
N.p., 7 Oct. 2012. Web. 24 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/07/opinion/greene-cyber-real/index.html>.
n.a., "Bank
Cyber Attack Under Formal Investigation." DutchNews.nl. N.p., 27
June 2012. Web. 24 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2012/06/bank_cyber_attack_under_formal.php>.
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