Syftet med denna uppsats är bland annat att utforskabegreppet cyber-war. Cyber-attacker utgör stora hot mot infrastrukturen,datorstyrda system och nätverksbaserade tjänster, enligt tidigare forskning. Menhur hotfulla är dessa attacker egentligen? Ska vi frukta att framtida krig blirvirtuella? Kan en ond grupp av människor med några rader av kod få kontroll övervår nation? För att få en bättre förståelse och för att kunna svara på frågorna, harjag med hjälp av tidigare publicerade publikationer gjort en litteraturanalys.Analysen bygger på sammanställning och jämförelse av åtta olika publikationer.Enligt forskningen så tyder tecken på att cyber-war kan vara ett framtida hot. / The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of cyber-war. Cyber-attacks pose major threats to infrastructure, computer systems and network-based services, according to previous research. But how threatening are these attacks? Should we fear that future wars will be virtual? Can a group of people with a few lines of code get control of our nation? To get a better understanding and be able to answer these questions, I have used previously published publications and have made a literature analysis. The analysis is based on a compilation and comparison of eight different publications. According to the research, cyber-war may be a future threat.

Doctor of Philosophy / Security Studies / Jeffrey J. Pickering / As the Internet is progressively integrated into industrial and defense-related networks around the globe, it is becoming increasingly important to understand how state and sub-state groups can use Internet vulnerabilities as a conduit of attack. The current social science literature on cyber threats is largely dominated by descriptive, U.S.-centric research. While this scholarship is important, the findings are not generalizable and fail to address the global aspects of network vulnerabilities. As a result, this dissertation employs a unique dataset of cyber threats from around the world, spanning from 1990 to 2011. This dataset allows for three diverse empirical studies to be conducted. The first study investigates the political, social, and economic characteristics that increase the likelihood of a state being targeted for cyber threats. The results show that different state characteristics are likely to influence the forms of digital attack targeting. For example, states that experience increases in GDP per capita and military size are more likely to be targeted for cyber attacks. Inversely, states that experience increases in GDP per capita and those that are more democratic are less likely to be targeted for cyber terrorism. The second study investigates the role that international rivalries play in cyber threat targeting. The results suggest that states in rivalries may have more reason to strengthen their digital security, and rival actors may be cautious about employing serious, threatening forms of cyber activity against foes because of concerns about escalation. The final study, based upon the crisis bargaining theory, seeks to determine if cyber threat targeting decreases private information asymmetry and therefore decreases conflict participation. Empirical results show that the loss of digital information via cyber means may thus illicit a low intensity threat or militarized action by a target state, but it also simultaneously increases the likelihood that a bargain may be researched, preventing full scale war by reducing the amount of private information held between parties.

The thesis explores the role and impact of the internet on Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora political activism, focusing on both the experiences of political activists and on an analysis of web content related to diaspora activism. The central argument of the thesis is based around the relationship between political agents and cyberspace. The thesis argues that the political strategies and tactics adopted in the Tamil diasporan political sphere have changed with an increased dependence on the internet changing with it the politics and lives of individual activists. Cyberspace is presented as a site of power struggle with power as both an objective and source in micro-political struggles. The thesis also highlights the double sense of space attributed to cyberspace, both as a space facilitating political activism and as a qualitatively new space for politics. It traces the manifestation of violence in cyberspace based on its extensive reach and the collateral damage it can cause in political conflicts. Also the thesis argues that these intense web engagements for domination and resistance within the diaspora communities cause the emergence of new political priorities in Tamil diaspora politics. These do not parallel political developments in the conflict back in Sri Lanka. The thesis is based on research conducted from 2005 to 2008 during heightened rivalries between supporters of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) and dissident Tamil diaspora political activists which involved the extensive use of cyberspace for political purposes. The empirical research consisted of an integrated framework of online and offline research. The offline research was based on eight months of fieldwork in London including interviews with Tamil diaspora political activists across the spectrum from pro-LTTE to anti-LTTE dissidents. The online research was based on the technique of Web Sphere Analysis, which enables a framing of web content into a coherent unit of analysis.

The subject of my diploma thesis, Cyber terrorism - medial threat, is a phenomenon of terrorist attacks in cyberspace, media discourse, within the reality is constructed cyber terrorism in the media and its impact on the securitization of cyber terrorism process. It also deals with the comparison of traditional forms of terrorism with those that have evolved with new communication technologies. The thesis outlines the development of the concept of terrorism from its beginning to the present. The aim of the thesis is to show Cyber terrorism as a latent threat to the information society. For the interdisciplinary approach is used the method of discourse analysis. Creating a social and media reality is analyzed based on the theory of Niklas Luhmann and points to the autopoiesis self-reference systems and reference each other, as a key concept in the construction of reality by the media. Another section is devoted to the reaction of the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on the "threat" of cyber terrorism. Keywords Terrorism, cyber terrorism, self-reference, autopoiesis, securitization

This thesis explores the nature of cyber-security at the beginning of the 21st century. In the current security paradigm, security strategies based on anticipatory governance have become essential in the management of the constantly changing cyber-security environment. Thus, this thesis aims to understand security strategies and governance introduced in the European region. The increased dependency on cyber-space is visible in all public-private sectors and governmental operations, as well as communications between groups and individuals. As a result, cyber-attacks on public and private entities are increasing. This requires a security framework that is flexible and establishes different types of security cooperation to manage the widespread cyber-risks. This is essential to the development of security strategies, governance forms, practices, and guidelines for enhancing resilience and preparedness towards cyber-risks. Therefore, I am examining cyber-security through the lenses of nodal governance and governmentality, which enables me to understand European cyber-security strategies and governance forms developed by the Council of Europe, the European Union, and the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization. To analyse existing strategies and governance forms, I have used two critical security schools, the Copenhagen School and the Paris School, which cover different aspects of the security agenda. The thesis develops a substantive analytical framework through two case studies, namely cyber-security and cyber-terrorism. The findings in this thesis identifies problem areas, such as the complexity of the nodal system, the legislative lacuna, reliance on different governance forms, transparency and accountability, and types of anticipatory governance and regulatory practices.

This diploma thesis deals with European Union and current security threats, concretely with Cyberterrorism. Cyberspace and internet became essential parts of our living over the last decades due to rapid development of information and communication technology. The increased dependency on cyberspace is visible in all governmental operations, public-private sector, financial and business operations, as well as communications between individuals and groups. As a result our society is facing new threats. On one hand cyberspace is a place for economic growth and innovation, on the other hand criminals, spies and terrorist use cyberspace as a place for their activities. Our society should be aware of these negative impacts as well. Cyberterrorism by its nature is considered to be a very dynamic phenomenon. Regarding this fact this thesis provides a dynamic way how to define Cyberterrorism and reveals main perspectives of Cyberterrorism. Tracking the European Unions Convention on Cybercrime and main means to fight Cyberterrorism, this thesis analysis whether European Union disposes of appropriate means to engulf the dynamic nature of this phenomenon.