Cyberwarfare entails the use of the Internet by one state to attack another. So far, most cyberwarfare assaults conducted through cyberspace have involved distributed denial-of-service attacks and have targeted those involved by spamming their websites until they are no longer available for use. These attacks have the potential to do significant damage to the economy and society of a targeted country if carried out over a long duration of time.
A well-planned, coordinated attack that simultaneously took down multiple computer systems involving air traffic control, financial transactions, and energy systems could wreak havoc on a country. This entry further defines cyberwarfare and describes how it differs from conventional warfare and from cyberterrorism and cybercrime.
It then provides examples. Cyberwarfare differs from conventional warfare in important ways, including the elimination of boundaries between the civilian and the military spheres and between state and nonstate actors. It differs from cyberterrorism and cybercrime in that it is conducted by state actors, although at times, it is difficult to distinguish between these terms as they are loosely defined. Experts who have written on cyberwarfare in recent years have differed over whether it presents a pressing concern.
In , Thomas Rid argued that cyberwar has not taken place and is unlikely to do so in the future, as cyberattacks are simply extensions of long-used instruments of war such as espionage and sabotage.
Conversely, Gary McGraw argued in that cyberwar was inevitable without improvements in defenses against it. As cyberattacks can easily transcend national borders, they can be seen as part of the challenge posed by globalization to the idea that each nation-state has sovereignty over its territory and domestic affairs.
