COGs Comment on Future Cyberspace Attacks

LCG reported:

6/07/07

Cyberspace Security Threatened. The world’s economy could suffer billions of dollars in losses if enemies of the Western nations were to succeed in disabling the Internet. Business and tax revenues would plummet. Banks would close their doors and automated teller machines would run out of money as customers rushed to withdraw savings. Demand for coins and currency would outstrip availability, and commerce would grind to a halt as panic-stricken populations stopped spending in order to hoard scarce cash. Food riots could erupt as grocery stores were unable to replenish inventories. Travel would be disrupted as gas station credit cards stopped working and airline reservation systems ceased to function. Could such a dire scenario occur? Experts recently told London’s Daily Mail newspaper that such attacks are not only possible but are likely in the near future (May 24, 2007). Recent Estonian riots over the removal of a Red Army war memorial escalated into a cyber-attack that disabled the websites of Estonian government ministries, banks, media outlets and political parties. The online attackers remotely hijacked access to computers to disrupt vital public services. “We’re lucky to survive this,” said an Estonian defense ministry spokesman. God warns in Deuteronomy 28:20 that He will send “cursing and confusion” on us because we have forsaken Him in our wickedness. Cyber-attacks could certainly be a partial fulfillment of this prophecy.

LCG’s report is correct that cyberspace attacks are being planned by enemies of the West.

PCG recently reported:

China Prepares for Cyber War

Monday, June 18, 2007

China is seeking dominance on a crucial front for the modern military: cyberspace.

In future, the battlefield for warfare will be the server room. Engagements on land and sea, even in air and space will rely heavily upon who wins the battle on the front lines of computer code. For this reason, Beijing wants electronic superiority, especially over the United States…

“China’s near-term focus on preparing for military contingencies in the Taiwan Strait, including the possibility of U.S. intervention, appears to be an important driver of its modernization plans,” the DoD said.

But it is not just China seeking to gain the ability to attack the U.S. in cyberspace. The Telegraph reported (emphasis ours):

Lt. Gen. Robert Elder, commander of the 8th Air Force, said that all of America’s foes, including Iran, were looking at ways of hacking into U.S. networks to glean trade and defense secrets.

But efforts by China set it apart. “They’re the only nation that has been quite that blatant about saying ‘we’re looking to do that,’” said General Elder in Washington.

Beijing has made huge strides in catching up to the leaders in the fields of space exploration, satellite communication, and military modernity. Now it is busy seeking a highly organized electronic warfare unit so it can gain the higher ground. Bringing the Pentagon’s highly secured network to its knees may be a tall order, but a coordinated attack would severely hamper U.S. response.

There have long been reports that certain terrorist groups intend to some day bring down the internet as part of their plans to negatively impact the USA, etc.