Cooperation between Cyber Criminals and Terrorist Organizations

Abstract

This paper examines some of the most widely researched trends and developments within the phenomenon of modern international terrorism, providing policy recommendations on how to counter its emerging threats in recognizing the strong impact of cyber criminals to terrorist organizations. The magnitude of the modern terrorist threat was demonstrated by the attacks of September 11, and ever since, the field has experienced a renewal of sorts, attracting unprecedented attention of all factors. This paper will address the meaning of the mutual need of cyber criminals and terrorist organizations and their mutual impact on state-nations. It will also present the many disciplines applicable to understand the combination of the traditional with the cybernetic, demonstrating that the phenomenon is multifaceted in nature, requiring a cohesive international and broad-based response. In covering a number of dilemmas deriving from the combination of these two groups, the paper explores the debate over a definition of cyber terrorism, providing a proposed definition that distinguishes the cyber terrorism from the cybernetic crime. The paper continues on to explore the phenomenon of modern cyber terrorism, the role of traditional crime within the cyber sphere, and the growing threat of cyber terrorism – including the cooperation between them, actions taken in the network, the help of cybernetic criminals etc. The role of cyber terrorism in democratic states and the economic ramifications of cyber terrorism are also explored. Finally, the paper ends with conclusions on how governments should see the cybernetic terrorism and the cybernetic crime, what should they understand about them and how immediate should be the answer to these new developments.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n9p532