CyberWar

• Indian hackers target Pakistan, BBC 3/14/03
• Computer Worm Linked to India-Pakistan Cyber-Spat, Reuters 3/14/03
• Indo-Pak war raging in cyberspace, The Times of India - Jan 3, 2002

• Al Qaeda May Target Cyberspace, Inquirer 12/10/02
• Officials: Net attacks amount to little, CNN 9/9/02
• Hacker Attacks Fail To Materialize, USA Today 8/9/02
• U.S. Monitoring Internet Attacks, USA Today 8/7/02
• Government's NIPC warns of pending cyberattack, NW Fusion 8/7/02
• Alert 02-003: Heightened Awareness Warranted on August 5-6, 2002 By U.S. Website and ISP Administrators, NIPC 8/7/02
• FBI warns of hacker attacks, CNET 8/7/02
• Bin Laden Hunt Enters Cyberspace, Vnunet 7/26/02
• Al Qaeda Cyber Alarm Sounded, FCW 7/26/02
• U.S. Finds Clues To Potential Cyber-Attack, Wash Post 6/28/02
• Worries Mount Over Terrorist Cyber Assault, Newsfactor 6/28/02
• Secret site helps U.S. commanders, CNN 6/3/02
• FBI To Websites: Pull Pearl Video, TechTV 5/29/02
• U.S. Says Afghan Foes Used Web, Had Money to Burn , Reuters 3/19/02
• Al Qaeda Seen Using Web To Regroup, Reuters 3/6/02
• Intercepted Al Qaeda E-Mail Is Said to Hint at Regrouping, nyt 3/6/02
• Bin Laden's online foe extradited on suspicion of fraud, Guardian 1/22/02
• Singapore blasts anti-government, pro-Osama sites, CNN 1/22/02
• Report: Cyberspace ripe for terrorist attacks, USAToday 1/7/02
• Al-Qaida Cyber Capability, OCIPEP 1/7/02
• Pentagon Looks To Civilian IT For Clues, EWeek 11/19/01
• U.S. Cyber Defense Lagging, INews 11/19/01
• U.S. official warns of future attacks on vital computer systems, Nando 11/19/01
• White House Casting Cyber Nets, FCW 11/19/01
• Experts Warn Of Cyberterror Threat, Newsfactor 11/13/01
• Cybersecurity czar: Protect Net info, CNN 11/9/01
• Private-sector IT key in war on terrorism, CW 11/9/01
• Digital Pearl Harbor, Wash post 11/5/01
• U.S. prepares for cyberwar, CNN 11/9/01
• Attacks from the heart of the net, BBC 10/30/01
• Teen hacker hunts Bin Laden Money, Guardian 10/30/01
• High-tech arsenal deployed in terrorist hunt, USA Today 10/30/01
• Taliban Web Sites Remain Online, Wash Tech 10/30/01
• Gilmore Warns Congress of Cyberattack Threat, Washtech 10/18/01
• New computer worm preys on anthrax scare, Times India 10/18/01
• Pentagon is probably jamming GPS in Afghanistan, experts say, CW 10/26/01
• MI5 posts terror appeal on Arab Websites, Guardian 10/26/01
• Hacker 'Bombs' Missing Targets, Newsfactor 10/26/01
• U.S. Government Web Site Jabbed by 'Gforce', Newsfactor 10/26/01
• MI5 turns to Newsgroups to find Bin Laden Supporters, Register 10/26/01
• Pakistani Hackers Attack U.S. Gov. Site, Reuters 10/26/01
• Pakistani hackers attack U.S. government site, USAToday 10/26/01
• Online Agitators Breaching Barriers, Newsbytes 10/25/01
• Cyber Warriors Gun For Bin Laden, Reuters 10/22/01
• Anti-Taliban internet users attack wrong target, Newfactor 10/5/01
• 5 Thoughts About Cyberterrorism, Darwin 10/26/01
• Bush Panel To Fight Cyberterror, FCW 10/18/01
• U.S. Is Unprepared For IT Warfare, CW 10/12/01
• Hacked Bank Denies Ties To Bin Laden, Newsbytes 10/12/01
• Hackers Claim Arab Bank Breach, Newsbytes 10/12/01
• Net Security Beefed Up to Thwart Possible Cyberterrorism, Newsfactor 10/12/01

• Computer experts warn of attack, CNEWS 10/10/01
• Experts warn of combo terrorist assault, cyber attack, CNN 10/10/01
• FBI Warns IT World To Brace Itself, CW 10/10/01
• Experts warn of terrorist cyber attack, India Times 10/10/01
• U.S. to Intensify Effort Against Threat of Computer Terrorism, LATimes 10/10/01
• Computer experts warn Congress of cyber terrorism threat, Nando 10/10/01
• Hacker Launches Anti-Terrorism Effort, Newsbytes 10/10/01
• Cyberspace Could Be Next Target, USAToday 10/10/01
• White House Names Cyberspace Security Adviser, Washtech 10/10/01Chaos: The Coming Technology War, Newsfactor 9/25/01
• Experts fear Web wars, CNEWS 9/28/01
• Hackers urged not to deface Middle Eastern sites, USAToday 9/28/01
• Key U.S. Computer Systems Called Vulnerable to Attack, Washtech 9/28/01
• Experts Issue Warning On WTC Worm, Newsbytes 9/25/01
• Virus that exploits World Trade Center terror Unleashed, NWFusion 9/25/01
• New E-Mail Virus Exploits World Trade Center Tragedy, Standard 9/25/01
• Experts Issue Warning On WTC Worm, Washtech 9/25/01
• Hackers 'Branded As Terrorists', BBC 9/28/01
• US computer networks at risk, BBC 9/28/01
• Net freedom fears 'hurt terror fight', BBC 9/28/01
• Hackers Sabotage Web Sites They Blame for Terrorism, Newsfactor 9/28/01Voter Virus Hits Internet E-Mail, ABC 9/25/01
• Attacks Computer Virus Identified, AP 9/25/01
• Computer World Wary of Cyber Attack, AP 9/21/01
• Companies Examine Cyber-security, CNN 9/21/01
• U.S. could use cybertactics to seize bin Laden's assets, CW 9/21/01
• Hackers Strike Middle Eastern Sites, USAToday 9/20/01
• FBI Warns Of Increased Activity By 'Patriotic Hacktivists', Newsbytes 9/17/01
• Computer world on guard for cyber attacks, CNN 9/21/01
• U.S. Vs. Bin Laden In Cyberwar?, CW 9/21/01
• Businesses prepare to combat cyberterrorism, Nando 9/21/01
• "Increased Cyber Awareness", NIPC 9/14/01
• Could cyber attack be next?, USAToday 9/13/01
• Prepare For 'Electronic Pearl Harbor', Newsfactor 9/13/01
• Firms Warned About Cyberattacks, CW 09/12/01
• Companies Urged to Prepare for Cyberterrorism, Standard 09/12/01
• 
  Former U.S. Official: Prepare for 'Electronic Pearl Harbor', Newsfactor 09/12/01

 "Pro Chinese hackers also acted against Taiwan during the Taiwanese presidential elections in August and September 1999.  Cyber protects and hacktivists compromised 165 Taiwanese web sites, mainly defacing them, over the two month period.  Their ultimate goal, as it was stated, was to negatively affect and bring own Taiwan's infrastructure.  Among the targeted sites were electricity, economic institutions, telecommunications, and air traffic control.  Although teams began to develop and organize near the end of the operations, the damage was relatively light, similar to the attacks on US sites earlier in the year.   Importantly, strategic targeting and some organization of forces became accepted strategies for future protests and hacks.  These hackers are likely to become more organized and more successful in future incidents.

 "In late April and early May 2001 Pro-Chinese hacktivists and cyber protesters began a cyber assault on US web sites.  This resulted from an incident in early April where a Chinese fighter was lost at sea after colliding wide a US naval reconnaissance airplane.  It also coincided with the two-year anniversary of the Chinese embassy bombing by the United States in Belgrade and the traditionally celebrated May Day and Youth Day in China.  Led by the Honkers Union of China (HUC), Pro-Chinese hackers defaced or crashed over 100 seemingly random web sites, mainly .gov, and .com, through DoS attacks and similar exploits. Although some of the tools used were sophisticated, they were readily available to both sides on the Internet.

"Many defacements of US sites included posting pictures of the dead Chinese pilot Wang Wei and profane messages calling for the downfall of the United States.  Pro-United States hackers responded with similar defacements, messages, and damage on 300 Chinese web sites.  Of interest is that some pro-Chinese hackers violated hacker etiquette by wiping some compromise servers.  The rule of thumb is to deface or crash a web site but to leave the information intact, otherwise it is considered bad form."  - NIPC, Cyber Protests:  The Threat to the US Information Infrastructure (Oct 2001)

• Official: 'Massive' Damage to China From Hacking, Wash Post 9/12/2007
• China denies Pentagon cyber-raid, BBC 9/4/2007
• China seen seeking to hack U.S. systems, MSNBC 4/26/02
• Report: U.S. Expecting Chinese Hack Blitz, Newsfactor 4/26/02
• Worries of Cyberattacks on U.S. Are Aired, Wash Tech 4/26/02
• Chinese Hack U.S. Computer Systems, MSNBC 4/26/02
• Red Alert Over Digital Warfare On The Net, BWO 5/1/01
• It's an All-Out Cyber War as U.S. Hackers Fight Back at China, Fox 5/1/01
• Is This World Cyber War I?, Wired 5/1/01
• Chinese Hackers May Launch Anti-U.S. Cyber Attacks, Reuters 4/27/01
• Feds Warn Of China May Day Attacks On U.S. Sites, CNN 4/27/01
• China Sounds Fresh Hacking Alarm, Reuters 5/4/01
• US Facing Chinese Cyber Blitz, BBC 5/3/01
• US And Chinese Hackers Trade Blows, BBC 5/1/01
• Hackers Hit California Offices' Web Sites, LA Times 5/1/01
• Chinese hackers launch week long cyber attack, Nando 5/1/01
• Experts Yawn Over US-China Hacker War, Newsbytes 5/1/01
• Chinese Hackers Launch Web-Site Attacks, Washtech 5/1/01
• Businesses warned of Chinese hackers' planned 'strike', Nando 4/27/01
• NIPC warns companies of Chinese hacker threat, CW 4/27/01

"The level of sophistication ranged from low level activity using simple defacement to coordinated, relatively sophisticated attacks such as potential root access penetrations.  Several hacking tools were developed specifically for this engagement.  Any type of attack was considered during this time, including perpetration of viruses, DoS attacks with email bombing, and sustained, amplified pinging attacks.  Web sites containing these various hacking tools were readily available for download to anyone who wanted to join the action.

"Pro-Palestinian hackers hit any type of Israeli site that they were able to compromise, many times defacing them with messages such as, "Free Palestine" or "Free Kashmir."  FloodNet software was a major tool used by the Israelis.  The cyber protesters simply visited a site and FloodNet would repeatedly send requests to the targeted server.  This type of virtual sit-in is a popular form of a DoS attack.  Many of these attacks were successful as servers were bombarded and went down repeatedly.  Targets included ethnic specific organizational web sites and those of financial institutions to disrupt the infrastructure.  Ecommerce sites crashed and there was an economic impact reflected in Israeli markets.  It was, however, the root access attempts that were the most dangerous for the defenders.  Hackers who can gain root access to sites give them unlimited freedom to do whatever they wish.  This is the highest level of penetration possible although no successful root access penetrations were reported.

"These events attracted a wide variety of hackers eager to join the fight.  Both sides were well-organized and used reconnaissance and intelligence gathering techniques to maximize their effectiveness.  Even outside hacking groups, such as G-Force Pakistan, joined forces with the Palestinians to lend a helping hand.  This is increasingly common.  Some outside groups join an effort because they have similar political or ethnic motivations, however, this is not always the case.  Some groups participate in hacks simply for the desire to hack or the publicity, not out of a sense of loyalty."
- NIPC, Cyber Protests:  The Threat to the US Information Infrastructure (Oct 2001)

Israel Blocks Palestinian ISP, Wired 7/17/02

Mideast strife echoed online, Nando 4/22/02

Middle East Conflict Spills Into Cyberspace, Register 4/17/02

Israel under hack attack, BBC 4/17/02

Israel's Seminar On Cyberwar Jan 10 wired

Mideast cyberwar hits U.S. Nov 3, 2000 usatoday

Israelis Hackers Vow To Defend Nov 15, 2000 wired

FBI: Mideast Hackers May Strike U.S. Sites Nov 2, 2000 cnet

Hackers target U.S. pro-israel site Nov 3, 2000 mercurycenter

Mideast cyberwar hits U.S. Nov 3, 2000 usatoday

Mideast Trouble Spills Into Cyberspace Oct 31, 2000 abcnews

FBI: Mideast cyberwar could reach U.S. Oct 31, 2000 usatoday

Israeli government, army Web sites crash after hostile hits Oct 26, 2000 cnn