Cyber‐terrorism: The shape of future conflict?
Andrew Rathmell · The RUSI Journal · 1997
Not only has the socio‐ and geo‐political climate changed dramatically in the‐last decade, but there has also been a technological sea‐change with the advent of the ‘information revolution’. The potential that these developments have created for differing forms of ‘warfare’ in cyberspace seems unlimited, with ‘cyber‐terrorism’ an apparently logical, outcome. But this potential needs to be approached not in the spirit of futurology and science‐fiction, but with clear‐headed analysis. Here Dr Rathmell brings to bear such an approach in discussing Information Warfare and its potential use by sub‐state groups, looking at the extent of IW techniques, who would use them, how and what categories of activities they, would, be. involved in. Using the case study of the Provisional IRA as a ‘doomsday scenario’, he assesses the threat of strategic infrastructure war‐fare. Dr Rathmell concludes, that as with the rest of society, sub‐state groups have embraced the information revolution, but realising its full potential would require levels of financial and personnel investment unlikely to be achieved soon. What is needed now is a full, pro‐active review of vulnerabilities across the information spectrum to ensure we are fully equipped to meet and outflank this new threat when it does materialise.