NCJ Number
194394
Journal
Nonproliferation Review Volume: 6 Issue: 63 Dated: Spring-Summer 1999 Pages: 57-64
Date Published
1999
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article examines issues in the possible threat of using experts in information technology to disrupt the communication and information systems vital to the functioning of strategic U.S. Government agencies and economic networks.
Abstract
The author develops the concept of a "Network Society," which describes a situation in which the daily lives of many people are more broadly affected by information technology and network-related novelties. Network Society's military assets require few personnel and will often be relatively easy to conceal, particularly considering the possibility of using computer simulations for training and development of operational concepts. The issue of greatest concern is the possibility of using digital information networks to do harm in direct ways, be it to the Internet infrastructure itself, to other infrastructures increasingly dependent on it, or to other applications. Technological monoculture benefits the cyber attacker, because methods and resources of attack can be freely moved to and launched from anywhere to any target. Still, the vulnerability of the Internet can also serve its defense. The web structure and self-routing principle enables resilience. By design, communication should be possible even when many nodes and links are down. So far, this architectural resilience has not been fully exploited. This should change as its use for business and critical applications increases. Network Society's innovation potential requires that infrastructures be built to manage a broad variety of potential future developments. To do this will require extensive use of scenarios and other qualitative foresight methodologies. 17 notes