The US Cyberspace - Emerging Threats - Research Paper Example

Emerging Threats Cyberspace America has always been a place known for unprecedented growth and advancement. As told in every historical myth, goodness always comes along with a bad prophecy. In recent years, America has been the target for almost all terrorist groups that are trying to intrude into its secured society thereby creating problems to the American government. The development of Cyberspace has given ways to identify possible loopholes that could lead to security breach, if not sealed in advance. When compared to other countries, America depends more on cyberspace. Cyberspace allows a country to access and use its information and perform operations over the internet. This in turn improves the country’s technical aspects. Cyberspace comprises of a country’s communication networks like telephone connections, transportation systems and other electrical power machines. When considering a country like America which purely depends on cyberspace and its related technologies for both securities and growth, it is difficult for it to work without it. On a general viewpoint, it becomes mandatory for a country to secure its cyberspace from attacks. In recent times, cyberspace has become an integral part of any country’s communication system. Due to this factor, a country works more efficiently to maintain its security issues involving it. This in turn leads to developmental activities along the lines of securing the cyberspace. These activities have higher potential in deciding on a country’s growth towards becoming a developed nation. America’s infrastructure has paved way for more cybercrimes. The reason for initiating such activities to control these problems is due to the relentless developments in the communications industry. (Westby, 2004). As a result, computer generated threats and attacks are increasing day by day. So, unless an efficient strategy is followed for the cyberspace program of a country then there is every possibility of it going all awry. Cyber Security Security is considered to be the major aspect of cyberspace. Since cyber threats pose high risk to a country’s security, the country must incorporate efficient and effective tools to maintain its security. The terrorist attack on the Twin Towers created a wave of fear among the citizens as well as the government. Since then, the American government altered the way it dealt with the business and financial activities. American government realized that the design of cyber security plays a main part and it must be efficient enough to protect a country’s information. (Fischer, 2005). Cyberspace must be defended by implementing the latest security standards and technologies which offer comprehensive protection. The nations that oppose America have started targeting their systems by means of cyber threats and attacks. They aim at attacking the security system by creating threats that result in problems like system crash and data loss. This in turn affects the country’s growth and eventually leads to various other problems. The American government and private organizations work together to protect the communication systems. The nature of these attacks must be analyzed so that the executives can rectify the problem by utilizing the required software. Though the government implements critical systems, that cannot be easily attacked, there are certain features which even those critical systems lack. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1998). The technological development has created both negative and positive impact on these security systems. The flaws in these systems make it easy for the intruders to attack them. Cyberspace is a dynamic environment where changes take place every now and then. Hence the security system must be updated regularly to work well with these new inventions. Else it would become a tough task for the security systems to deal with various threats. The objective of a security system does not end with protecting the government and its related operations. Instead it concentrates on the entire country’s safety and security. Hence these systems must be efficient enough to handle any type of threat and attack. Unauthorized access of the data and intruding into a system has become a common task. There are people who are professionally trained to intrude into such security systems. The systems that control the government and its related activities are the most targeted ones. (Gallaher, 2008).The computer systems that store information pertaining to the defense and other governmental trades are more prone to such vulnerable attacks. Though only some of these threats and attacks make their way into the system, the after effects are unimaginable. Some of these threats enter into the system; download the passwords and other security codes from the system. Today, most of the countries rely on computer systems to maintain their information. America is one among them where computers are extensively used to operate and maintain the information of each and every transaction. Privacy of data is considered to be the aim of a network system. Details like social security number, green card information, and citizenship details are the ones to be stored and maintained in a secured manner. The government is held responsible for any loss of information regarding the citizens. (National Security Council, 2010). The major functions of a security system include data security and privacy. This can be achieved only by implementing a proper infrastructure which assures security of data irrespective of the threat’s vulnerability. The attention to new threats to U.S security does not intrude on individual civil liberties. The reason is; the systems are developed with consistent operations that concentrate on issues which create problem in the system. The infrastructure of these systems plays a major role in maintaining the information. When compared to the past, the attentions to the new threats have become a matter of concern. (McElhattan, 2009).The government must maintain the private information of the citizens in a more professional manner. This can be done only when the systems are updated according to the development in the concerned technologies. The next important factor is to employ professional people who can maintain the systems in a much efficient manner. The fulfillment of all these factors will ensure that the information system is secured. The systems that protect the civil liberties must be efficient enough to handle any sort of cyber threats and attacks. This can be achieved by proper planning, implementation and maintenance of the system. Most of these systems aim at providing security to the private data stored in the system. The modules and components installed in the system may sometimes lead to a situation where the privacy of information is lost (Crerry, 2005). The government and private organization must work together to resolve these issues which affect the civil liberties. Cyber security is one of the major problems in America and this poses a great challenge to the American nation. Recently, a research was conducted on the American government’s systems that maintain private details of the citizens. The federal government was forced to adapt new systems that would maintain their records in a more efficient manner. (Ralston, 2007). The government has decided to implement latest technologies to ensure that the systems maintain the security in an effective manner. The studies and researches conducted by various private organizations recommend that a comprehensive cyber security to be set up to make sure that the cyberspace does not receive any threats or attacks. To accomplish this, the government must implement this recommendation by conducting cyber related activities in a more consistent manner also ensuring security of data. This includes privacy options, which guarantee civil liberties and this is considered to be the main advantage of this recommendation. However, this can be achieved by introducing a new department which must be a part of the government. The aim of this department is to protect the cyberspace of U.S. (White House, 2000). The national security association Comprehensive National Cyber security Initiative (National Security Council, 2010) aimed at resolving the various issues faced by the American government. The major policies of this council include establishing a separate component to act against the latest threats. It comprises of various policies that defend against the threats; by accommodating the system according to country’s policies that define security of these systems. This department aims at providing complete security to the systems thereby ensuring that the cyberspace is inured to security. Civil liberties and privacy of data are the most important aspects and the government must make sure that they are well protected. Attention to new threats to U.S security does not intrude in civil liberties, since the new technologies and system related advancements have been implemented frequently to offer complete security to the systems. Hence the attention to new threats does not create any problem to the civil liberties. References Westby, J. (2004). International Guide to cyber Security. U.S.A: ABA Publishing. Fishcer, E. (2005). Cyber security and Homeland Security. New York: Nova Science Publishers. Gallaher, M. (2008). Cyber Security: Economic Strategies and Public Policy Alternatives. U.S.A: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited. National Security Council. (2010). Cyberspace Policy Review: Securing America’s Digital Future. U.S.A: Cosimo Inc. Crrery, A. (2005). Cyber Security for Power Systems and Networks. Industry Conference 12 303-309. Ralston, P. (2007). Cyber Security Risk Assessment For SCADA and DCS Networks. Elseiver 46.4: 583-594. White House. (2000). Defending America’s Cyberspace: National Plan for Information Systems Protection. CIAO. Retrieved from: http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd/CIP-plan.pdf National Security Council. (2010). The Comprehensive National Cyber Security Initiative. Global Security. . Retrieved from: http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/policy/national/cnci_2010.htm. McElhatton, J. (2009, February 12). U.S. Intel Economy: Security Threat. The Washington Times. Federal Bureau of Investigation. (1998).Threats to U.S. National Security. Department of Justice. 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