Cyberterrorism is the latest and possibly the most intriguing form of terrorism. The legal systems, not to mention the computer systems, of the world are ill-prepared for this new type of terrorism which raises unique issues. Terrorism in cyberspace brings together two significant modern fears: the fear of technology and the fear of terrorists. It is generally understood to mean unlawful attacks and threats of these against computers, networks, and the information stored therein when done to intimidate or coerce a government or its people in furtherance of political or social objectives. It can be a low-budget form of attack. The only real costs may be some computer equipment and programming time. Unlike a real world attack, the terrorist does not need to make or transport a bomb; customs inspection is not an issue and delivery of the destructive weapon may require only a Personal Computer and a telephone line. The 22 articles republished here assess a number of the germane issues surrounding cyberterrorism - its substance, why it is attractive to terrorists, legal problems of countering it, prospects for international co-operation, means of defending against cyber attacks and the outlook for the future.
