Hacker Attacks Top Latest U.S. List of Global Threats
Hacker Attacks Top Latest U.S. List of Global Threats
By David Lerman & Laura Litvan - Mar 12, 2013 10:22 AM PT
Hostile hackers or an “isolated state” may succeed in breaching U.S. computer networks and disrupting power grids and other vital services in the next two years, the top U.S. intelligence official told Congress today. James Clapper, the U.S. director of national intelligence, didn’t identify which states might conduct such an attack “as a form of retaliation or provocation,” though the U.S. commonly applies such language to describe nations such as Iran, North Korea, and Syria.
While the damage from such an intrusion would probably be limited, “there is a risk that unsophisticated attacks would have significant outcomes due to unexpected system configurations and mistakes,” Clapper said in an annual assessment of global threats presented to the Senate intelligence committee.
Cyberattacks moved past terrorism to take top place in the U.S. intelligence community’s annual list of global threats that also includes Iran’s nuclear program and the Syrian government’s chemical arsenal. The report and his testimony also covered threats stemming from Iran’s nuclear activities, the North Korean “belligerent’ statements, the Syrian civil war, and environmental changes.
The emphasis on cybersecurity threats reflects increased U.S. concern that hackers or hostile regimes may seek to inflict a crippling blow on vital industries such as energy, banking or transportation. Asked during testimony whether the threats are accelerating, Clapper responded with a single word: ‘‘Absolutely.’’
List with short summaries.
Stealing Information................
Arab Spring....................
‘Jihadist Movement’.......................
Hezbollah Activities.....................
Nuclear Iran......
North Korea..........
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-12/hacker-attacks-top-latest-u-s-list-of-global-threats.html