Cyberwar Threat to U.S. Grows Worse

United Press International ^ | October 9, 2008 | Lawrence Sellin Posted on 10/09/2008 10:45:26 PM PDT by Ordinary_American WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Viruses, worms, identity theft, extortion and other forms of criminal activity are not the only illicit uses of the Internet. "Malware" -- malicious software designed to exploit weaknesses in programs and the computers on which they run -- has now spawned the capability to digitally "soften up the battlefield." The cyberattack has become a major weapon of psychological operations and information warfare in both hot and cold wars. It also will grow as a weapon of choice for transnational terrorists because it provides a relatively inexpensive means to disrupt global communications covertly and, in some cases, the ability to use our own computers against us. According to the... [read full story]