Threats to cyberspace are not new; they have been an active part of the virtual world for decades. What is new is the depth and breadth of the threats. More digital malefactors than ever now are plying their evil wares in cyberspace. And the potential effects of their operations could be as catastrophic to an industrialized nation as kinetic warfare. The recent U.S. government reports of Chinese hacking into the personnel records of 4 million government employees represent only the latest in a long line of similar activities committed by a range of players across government and industry. These players could be hobbyists, "hacktivists," terrorists, organized criminals or nation-state spies. They might be striving for recognition, publicity, sabotage, money or national security information. Increasingly, they are crossing traditional demarcation lines, operating with multiple motives and attaining diverse results.
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