Author(s): Alexandra Elena TIMOFTE
Publication name: Romanian Intelligence Studies Review
Publisher name: Mihai Viteazul National Intelligence Academy
Publication type: Journal article
Publication date: December 31, 2018
Pagination:
Issue/ Volume: 19-20/2018
DOI:
Abstract
Out of all the industrial or technological revolutions that ever occurred
throughout the history the latest one marked all the components of human life. But
development comes with diversification of vulnerabilities and threats. Thus, the
providers of security are forced to have the proper response facing all kind of threats,
conventional and non-conventional (hybrid threats) starting with the military
dimension to the digital or cyber space.
9/11 and the cyber-attack against Estonia were both conducted through non-
conventional means, they were both affecting the civil population and not only the
government or the politicians, both were aiming to weaken the national security of the
countries targeted. But what impact did these two events have on NATO? How was each
perceived at the level of the Alliance and what was their outcome? A terrorist attack is
producing way much greater impact upon the public compared to a cyber-attack which
can hardly cause such major visual effect. However, the latter, in the context of the
fast digitalization of the present days, can seriously damage the government services and
decrease peoples trust. In this realm a real and comprehensive response to the new
threats is required, not only from the states as sovereign entities but also from the
organization at the international level.
Keywords: cyber-attack, cyber defense, non-conventional means, non-
conventional threat, terrorist attack.
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