Cyber warfare refers to the use of digital technologies and networks to conduct hostile actions against a nation’s or organization’s critical systems, infrastructure, or information networks. It involves state or non-state actors employing cyberattacks to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems, networks, or data for strategic, political, or military purposes.
Key aspects include:
• Attacks: Deploying malware, ransomware, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, or phishing to disrupt services, steal data, or compromise systems.
• Targets: Critical infrastructure (e.g., power grids, financial systems), military networks, government databases, or private sector entities.
• Actors: Nation-states, terrorist groups, hacktivists, or criminal organizations.
• Goals: Espionage, sabotage, propaganda, economic disruption, or weakening an adversary’s capabilities.
• Examples: The 2007 cyberattacks on Estonia, the 2010 Stuxnet worm targeting Iran’s nuclear program, or large-scale data breaches like the 2020 SolarWinds attack.
Unlike traditional warfare, cyber warfare is often invisible, borderless, and can be conducted anonymously, making attribution and defense challenging. It leverages vulnerabilities in software, hardware, or human behavior to achieve its objectives.