Thinking about Cybersecurity: From Cyber Crime to Cyber Warfare

What makes the Internet so vulnerable is its ability to connect, and to be connected to, anyone and almost anything. Here, explore how cyberspace works. You'll learn what goes on behind the scenes of a simple Internet search, how a simple TCP/IP system functions, the five layers of connections that make up a conceptual "map" of cyberspace, and more.

Take a closer look at the cyber domain's inherent vulnerability to cyber threats. Professor Rosenzweig explains the five key gateways to this vulnerability, including the Internet's ability to destroy time and space; allow users to act in ways they can't in the physical world; and operate without international boundaries.

Learn about some of the most dangerous ways people can exploit the Internet's vulnerabilities, including DDoS attacks (which flood websites with connection requests), "Trojans" (malware hidden inside an innocent piece of information), and "botnets" (which control computers like puppets). Then, investigate some common defense mechanisms that help pinpoint and capture these threats.

Identification is perhaps the single most profound challenge for cybersecurity today. In this episode, delve into the question of network anonymity and identity. Who maintains domain names? How can people obscure their identities for malicious purposes? How are network designers fighting back against this threat? What are the ethical problems involved in this issue?

Professor Rosenzweig leads you on an examination of all-too-common instances of cybercrime that involve fraud and identity theft. You'll encounter crimes that mimic real-world ones (with a computer as the "weapon") and "computer crimes" that are only possible in the cyber world. Then, find out how law enforcement authorities are fighting back against organized, international cyber criminals.

Enter the netherworld of hacktivism, or the use of computer hacking methods to stage protests and make political statements. In this episode, learn to identify and distinguish the "good guys" from the "bad guys" by exploring real-world examples that illustrate the three major types of hacktivists: political activists, cyber insurgents, and mischief makers.

Turn now to the highest level of cyber conflict: a cyber war between nation-states. What is meant by the term "cyber war"? How does one fight a battle in cyberspace? What do the enemies look like? Do traditional international rules of armed conflict apply? How do we counter such an attack-and should we?

Join the debate about government regulation of cyberspace with this episode that considers both sides of the issue. By looking at the debate in America over government oversight of cybersecurity (and whether we even need it at all), you'll be better informed about a topic that has serious ramifications for how you use the Internet.

Continue exploring rules and regulations about the Internet, this time on the international level. First, Professor Rosenzweig discusses existing Internet governance and the dynamics leading to change. Then, he assesses some of the barriers to effective international governance of the Internet. Is the current structure, with all of its flaws, better than the alternatives?