Need peer responses: Each reply should be 150+ words. Think of your responses in terms of a contribution to a dialogue, not a writing exercise or a chat room. Elaborate a single idea and keep your post short but concise as if you were holding a conversation with your classmate(s). Incorporate what you have learned from the weekly reading material and from your own real-world experiences. Don’t forget to use proper APA citations and references whenever necessary.
Heard: Weapons of mass destruction will always be a worldwide concern. The use of WMDs in the past, like World War II, gave the world a small glimpse of what a nuclear bomb could do. Over six decades ago, the United States used an atomic bomb, killing nearly 200,000 people. This doesn't even account for the years that the radiological element of the weapon wreaked havoc on humankind. Just as everything else has evolved, so have the manufacturing and the ease of deployment of nuclear weapons. A weapon of mass destruction would cripple the world's infrastructure. Not to mention that my kids would be devastated by losing wifi. On a more serious note, the chances of survival would be slim to nine. If some did survive, maintaining life in such gruesome conditions would be extremely difficult. This led to the introduction of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968, which prohibited the cross-leveling of nuclear bombs or the aid in making them. There are still nations that have not agreed to or signed this treaty. This sparks tremendous concern in the United States because military maneuvers will not have the desired effect of stopping terrorists from using nuclear attacks. Counterterrorism and preparedness are the only way. Counterterrorism is so very important now that cyberterrorism has become the preferred and most effective way to enact terror in densely populated areas.
Cyberterrorism has many nicknames, like hacking and cybercrime. Whatever the name, it has become a significant threat to infrastructures worldwide by introducing malware and viruses to computer systems. Most cyber crimes are done to disrupt or delay. They have even been used as distractions. Many may think that cyberterrorism will not cause kinetic casualties. In fact, this form of terror attack can and will cause a high number of deaths because it may cripple an entire health system or prevent the communication and location of critically ill patients. Cyberterrorism can also be used to interrupt utilities like electricity and water supply. Cyberterrorism is hard to track and makes the culprit completely unidentifiable. This makes it imperative for each citizen to be mindful of their digital footprint and security. Preparedness and counterterrorism must be on the frontlines of this war against terror.
Conley: Even though the Cold War ended right at the end of 1991, which may be considered to be quite a long time ago there definitely should be concerns about weapons of mass destruction. "Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) are weaponry that will create major carnage, destruction, and disruption when utilized" (McEntire). The main reason because of this would have to be terrorists. Many scholars and policy experts agree that forthcoming attacks will rely on WMDs in the future (Gurr and Cole 2000; Kelley 2014; Mahan and Griset 2013). Terrorists tend to use WMDs when going through with their attacks in order to kill and injure as many people as they possibly can (mass casualties). These attacks are still a major concern and likely will continue to be in the future, as it is not something that will completely die out or stop happening. Aside from mass casualties, there are a few other reasons as to why terrorists will seek to use weapons of mass destruction during their attacks. These reasons are degraded response capabilities, contamination, economic damage, psychological impact, and political damage (McEntire, 2018). The textbook definition of cyberterrorism is a "terrorist activity that utilizes or attacks computer networks to instill fear and force some type of change" (McEntire). There are several reasons why this type of terrorism is such a threat now, but the main reason would be due to the fact that the wrong individuals can potentially gain access to computers and then take control over important services that everyone relies on. With how easy it is for some people to attack someone's computer, it's best to make sure all the necessary security measures are taken on said computers. There are lots of ways to lessen to possibility of a cyber attack, but making sure software is always up to date and having softwares installed to catch vulnerabilities should be a good start.
