Cyber Attacks and National Security

Last week a cyber attack was reported on a nuclear-power plant in Iran. The cyber attack on Bushehr is dangerous because the worm is capable of reprogramming the systems controlling the power plant. Cyber attacks among states have been increasing in the last years.  It seems as if these cyber attacks have become the new form of permanent low-level warfare. One thing to worry about, that is different than other kind of attacks, is that these attacks can do a lot of damage and are very difficult to reverse, or sometimes to even detect. It is not enough to merely block Internet traffic, many systems are thought to be so important that they are never turned off to even install security patches. Most people are unaware of such security treats in the cyber world, when in reality, they are as dangerous as any other threat. It was good to see that the news of the power plant in Iran made it into the headlines of some of the major national newspapers. It will help people become more aware of the technological challenges the government faces and it will help government stay up to the task to defend the country.