The Palestinian-Israel: cyberwar

Military Review, March-April, 2003 by Patrick D. Allen, Chris C. Demchak

In any modern conflict, cyberspace can be an additional avenue of attack. Because the United States is the largest player in the international political environment, it has become a lightning rod for hacking and terrorist attacks, regardless of whether the nation was involved in the initial conflict. Until 11 September 2001, the United States was fairly complacent about its enemies overseas. However, the distance between the United States and its enemies is dramatically reduced. The lessons from early cyber conflicts need to be learned now to properly prepare for future conflicts.

NOTES

(1.) Peggy Weigle, Corporate Executive Officer (CEO), Sanctum Inc., quoted in Carmen J. Gentile, "Hacker War Rages In Holy Land," on-line at <www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,40030,00.html>, 8 November 2000.

(2.) James Adam, CEO, iDefense, quoted in Gentile, "Israeli Hackers Vow to Defend," on-line at <www.wired.corn/news/politics/0,1283,40187,00.html>, 15 November 2000.

(3.) "Cyber War Also Rages in MidEast," The Associated Press, on-line at <www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,39766,00.html>, 26 October 2000; Brian Krebs, "Hackers Worldwide Fan Flames in Middle East Conflict," on-line at <www.infowar.com/hacker/00/hack_112000c_j.shtml>, 20 November 2000.

(4.) "Cyber War Also Rages in MidEast."

(5.) Krebs, "Hackers Worldwide"; Infowar.com, 20 November 2000; "Israel's 'Mossad' Hackers Break into Iranian President's Website, "Xinhua News Agency Bulletin (18 January 2001); on-line at <www.infowar.com/hacker/01/hack_011901c_j.shtml>, 19 January 2001; Tania Hershman, "Israeli Seminar on Cyberwar," on-line at <www.wired.com/news/politic/0,1283,41048,00.html>, 10 January 2001.

(6.) Gentile, "Palestinian Crackers Share Bugs," on-line at <www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,40449.00.html>, 2 December 2000.

(7.) Robyn Welsman, "California Power Grid Hack Underscores Threat to U.S.," online at ww.newsfactor.com/perl/story/11220.html>, 13 June 2001.

(8.) "Israel Suffers Escalating Hack Attacks," on-line at <www.mi2g.com/cgi/mi2g/press/150402.php>, 15 April 2002.

(9.) Gentile, "Israeli Hackers."

(10.) Ibid., "Palestinian Crackers."

(11.) Ibid., "Hacker War Wages."

(12.) Ibid., "Israeli Hackers."

(13.) Krebs; Elisa Batista, "Palestinian Group Targets AT&T," on-line at <www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,39913,00.html>, 6 November 2000.

(14.) Gentile, "Israeli Hackers."

(15.) Ibid., "Hacker War Wages."

(16.) Ibid., "Israeli Hackers."

(17.) Michelle Delio, "It's (Cyber) War: China vs. U.S.," on-line at <www.wirednews.com/news/print/0,1294,43437,00.html>, 30 April 2001.

(18.) Ibid.

(19.) NIPC Advisory 01-009, "Increased Internet Attacks Against U.S. Web Sites and Mail Servers Possible in Early May," on-line at <www.nipc.gov/warnings/advisories/2001/01-009,htm>, 26 April 2001.

(20.) Delio, "U.S., Chinese Hackers Wage Online War," Agence Prance Presse (24 April 2001), on-line at <www.inq7.net/inf/2001/apr/ 24/inf_3-1.htm>, 24 April 2001.

(21.) Gentile, "Palestinian Crackers" and "Israeli Hackers."

(22.) Elazar Levin, "Overseas Hackers Strike Again: Israel Land Administration Shuts Down Most of its Web Site," Israel's Business Arena (4 December 2000), on-line at <http://new.globes.co.il/serveEN/globes/ docView.asp?did=454769&fid=947> and <www.infowar.com/hacker/00/hack_120500a_j.shtml>, 5 December 2000.

(23.) Gentile, "Palestinian Crackers."

(24.) Lawrence K. Gershwin, "Cyber Threat Trends and US Network Security," statement before the Joint Economic Committee, on-line at <www.cia.gov/cia/public_affairs/speeches/gershwin_speech_062>, 21 June 2001.

(25.) Matt Krantz and Edward Iwata, "Companies Bleed Cash When Computers Quit," USA Today, 11 June 2001, section B, page 1.

(26.) "Israel Suffers."

(27.) Delio, "Got a Virus? Blame the Tightwads," on-line at <www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,42047,00.html>, 28 February 2001.

(28.) "Cyber War Also Rages"; Krebs, "Hackers Worldwide."

(29.) Gentile, "Hacker War Rages."

(30.) Ibid., "Israeli Hackers."