The Information System and the Global Terrorism

Abstract:     
The critical infrastructures of nations are based nowadays on information technology and this is the essential issue for both national authorities and terrorist groups. The magnitude of this problem resides in the vulnerabilities of the computer or telecommunication networks to a terrorist attack. Information systems play a vital role in administration and operating nuclear plants, dams, electric network, air-traffic-control system and financial institutions. The terrorist groups know these vulnerabilities and in different ways could call forth great damages at national level. At the same time, information systems have an important role in the prevention, detection and mitigation of terrorist attacks. But, after all, what will happen when the Internet of Things and Internet of People will become reality and not a subject of research?

Therefore, as we can see, information systems play a double role: means/new weapons for terrorist groups and support for public and private bodies to avoid the terrorist attacks. These are the two directions of our paper.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 12

Keywords: information systems, terrorism, cyber terrorism, attacks, vulnerabilities, counterterrorism, cyber authentication

JEL Classification: H56, L86, N40, O33

working papers series