Why Malicious Code Attacks Are Dangerous?
There are substantial economic consequences of computer crimes that involve malicious code attacks, unauthorized intrusion into networks and computer systems, and denial-of-service attacks. Dale L. Watson, Executive Assistant Director, Counter-terrorism and Counterintelligence of the FBI, testified before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on February 6, 2002. Watson pointed out that during the past several years, the FBI had identified a wide array of cyber threats, ranging from defacement of Web sites by juveniles to sophisticated intrusions sponsored by foreign powers. Watson pointed out that some of these incidents pose more significant threats than others. The theft of national security information from a government agency or the interruption of electrical power to a major metropolitan area obviously would have greater consequences for national security, public safety, and the economy than the defacement of a Web site. But even the less serious categories have real conseq
