Revisiting the Estonian Cyber Attacks: Digital Threats and Multinational Responses
In April 2007, the Estonian Government moved a memorial commemorating the Soviet liberation of the country from the Nazis to a less prominent and visible location in Tallinn. This decision triggered rioting among Russian-speaking minorities and cyber terrorism targeting Estonia's critical econo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Henley-Putnam University
2011-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Strategic Security |
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| Online Access: | http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1105&context=jss |
| _version_ | 1818873040893640704 |
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| author | Stephen Herzog |
| author_facet | Stephen Herzog |
| author_sort | Stephen Herzog |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In April 2007, the Estonian Government moved a memorial commemorating the Soviet liberation of the country from the Nazis to a less prominent and visible location in Tallinn. This decision triggered rioting among Russian-speaking minorities and cyber terrorism targeting Estonia's critical economic and political infrastructure. Drawing upon the Estonian cyber attacks, this article argues that globalization and the Internet have enabled transnational groups—such as the Russian diaspora—to avenge their grievances by threatening the sovereignty of nation-states in cyberspace. Sophisticated and virtually untraceable political "hacktivists" may now possess the ability to disrupt or destroy government operations, banking transactions, city power grids, and even military weapon systems. Fortunately, western countries banded together to effectively combat the Estonian cyber attacks and minimize their effects. However, this article concludes that in the age of globalization, interdependence, and digital interconnectedness, nation-states must engage in increased cooperative cyber-defense activities to counter and prevent devastating Internet attacks and their implications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T12:48:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b35c147256004f75939b8fabff8879f1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1944-0464 1944-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T12:48:23Z |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | Henley-Putnam University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Strategic Security |
| spelling | doaj.art-b35c147256004f75939b8fabff8879f12022-12-21T20:20:39ZengHenley-Putnam UniversityJournal of Strategic Security1944-04641944-04722011-01-01424960Revisiting the Estonian Cyber Attacks: Digital Threats and Multinational ResponsesStephen HerzogIn April 2007, the Estonian Government moved a memorial commemorating the Soviet liberation of the country from the Nazis to a less prominent and visible location in Tallinn. This decision triggered rioting among Russian-speaking minorities and cyber terrorism targeting Estonia's critical economic and political infrastructure. Drawing upon the Estonian cyber attacks, this article argues that globalization and the Internet have enabled transnational groups—such as the Russian diaspora—to avenge their grievances by threatening the sovereignty of nation-states in cyberspace. Sophisticated and virtually untraceable political "hacktivists" may now possess the ability to disrupt or destroy government operations, banking transactions, city power grids, and even military weapon systems. Fortunately, western countries banded together to effectively combat the Estonian cyber attacks and minimize their effects. However, this article concludes that in the age of globalization, interdependence, and digital interconnectedness, nation-states must engage in increased cooperative cyber-defense activities to counter and prevent devastating Internet attacks and their implications.http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1105&context=jssCybersecurityEurope and EUGlobal trends and risksInformation operationsNetworks and network analysisNonstate actorsScience and technology & securityRussia |
| spellingShingle | Stephen Herzog Revisiting the Estonian Cyber Attacks: Digital Threats and Multinational Responses Journal of Strategic Security Cybersecurity Europe and EU Global trends and risks Information operations Networks and network analysis Nonstate actors Science and technology & security Russia |
| title | Revisiting the Estonian Cyber Attacks: Digital Threats and Multinational Responses |
| title_full | Revisiting the Estonian Cyber Attacks: Digital Threats and Multinational Responses |
| title_fullStr | Revisiting the Estonian Cyber Attacks: Digital Threats and Multinational Responses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Revisiting the Estonian Cyber Attacks: Digital Threats and Multinational Responses |
| title_short | Revisiting the Estonian Cyber Attacks: Digital Threats and Multinational Responses |
| title_sort | revisiting the estonian cyber attacks digital threats and multinational responses |
| topic | Cybersecurity Europe and EU Global trends and risks Information operations Networks and network analysis Nonstate actors Science and technology & security Russia |
| url | http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1105&context=jss |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stephenherzog revisitingtheestoniancyberattacksdigitalthreatsandmultinationalresponses |