Information Warfare: Will We Be Prepared When War Comes Home?
Abstract
As the United States becomes increasingly dependent on information infrastructures to conduct daily activities, it is also becoming increasingly susceptible to information warfare (IW) attacks. A thorough understanding of the risks and vulnerabilities of an IW attack against the United States is crucial in implementing a credible defense. The technological advances of the Information Age bring significant advantages in timeliness and efficiency, but incorporating these technologies also brings with it significant challenges to national defense. With its increased reliance on information, the United States must reevaluate its vulnerabilities and methods of ensuring the protection of its national interests. The advances in IW capabilities may, in the end, be more beneficial to those countries that could never hope to challenge the United States in conventional military strength. It is therefore critical that the United States adopt an effective and resilient IW defense. The importance of information and the advances in associated technologies are going to increase significantly in the future. To realize the true benefit of the Information Age, the United States must ensure the availability, reliability, and protection of its information infrastructures. While the nation has been quick to incorporate advanced technologies into its daily routine, the exploration of associated defensive, offensive, and legal ramifications of IW has not been as rapid. At present, the nation is ill-prepared to defend against a coordinated IW attack on its national information infrastructures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA529227
Entities
People
- Gretchen S. Herbert
Organizations
- Marine Corps University