Cybersecurity and physical security are becoming increasingly intertwined, and experts say that connection is raising new concerns about cyber threats and the potential for cyber terrorism.
Authorities have alleged that cyber activity played a role in the radicalization of Jessica Bowie, and cybersecurity professionals say radicalization often begins online before moving into the real world.
“The path to radicalization really starts online and in social media, right?” said Tush Nikoaiceo, CEO of Logical Net Corporation. “And then from there, it tends to escalate to the physical side of the world.”
Nikoaiceo said the “convergence” of cyber intelligence and physical security is becoming “super important” as officials and security professionals look for warning signs that could indicate a threat.
“And I think both have to work hand in hand in order to identify any potential threats or cyber terrorism going on,” Nikoaiceo said.
Concerns about cyber terrorism extend beyond individual cases, with experts warning that attacks could threaten national security. Dan O’Dowd, CEO of Green Hills Software and the Dawn Project, said his group works to expose vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, particularly software that can be easily hacked.
Asked whether there is a rise in cyber terrorism attacks or threats, O’Dowd said, “There are yeah. I get a report every morning, three or four pages long.”
“It just says, you know, one million people, you know, you know affected by this thing. You know 300,000 by that thing every now now that’s tens of millions of people the the number of vulnerability security vulnerabilities that the government actually has,” O’Dowd said.
Experts also said there are steps people can take at home to help reduce risk and flag potential threats. Nikoaiceo urged people to report suspicious behavior online.
“If you see any nefarious activities or solicitations, report it. There’s nothing wrong with that, right?” Nikoaiceo said. “If we’re good citizens and we see something that just doesn’t quite seem right or doesn’t add up, report it.”
