Cyber terrorism is the use of information technology to launch attacks against telecommunication infrastructures, information systems networks and computer systems; or for making threats or spreading hate messages to citizens, ethnic groups or communities electronically. Instances of cyber terrorism include introducing virus to disable information networks, web site defacing, denial of service attacks, pilferage of sensitive data and information, execution of fraudulent transactions etc.
Cyber space is constantly under intimidation. These onslaughts are facilitated by convenient and increasingly powerful software tools not difficult to source. These cyber attacks can affect millions of user victims and cost billions of dollars in damage. The situation is alarming since regular cyber criminals are acting in concert with insiders to wreck information systems and paralyze computer networks.
One common method of protection from cyber terrorism is secret coding of electronic messages or encryption. The use of fire walls to filter all incoming communications to a system is also a popular protective device.
The US Department of Defense has entrusted the United States Strategic Command with the duty of checkmating cyber terrorism through the mechanism of Joint Task Force- Global Network Operation. Further, in response to the growing menace of cyber terrorism President Bill Clinton set up in the year 2003 the Commission of Critical Infrastructure Protection.
