"The former U.S. counter-terrorism official who raised the alarm that a major terrorist attack was coming before 9/11 is now warning that cyber-war is an imminent threat."
Many of the top decision makers, Cofer said, are still ignorant of the threats that are out there and how they target major corporations, government agencies and the defense industry.
Cofer Black, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Counterterrorist Center, said in his keynote speech Aug. 3 at the Black Hat conference. Cofer was the U.S. Department of State’s coordinator for counter-terrorism with the rank of ambassador at large from December 2002 to November 2004.
The ability of Stuxnet to physically damage equipment has made cyber-security significantly more important, Black said. The fact that cyber-attacks can impact the physical world means cyber-techniques must be considered as a tool that terrorists can utilize, Black said.
Stuxnet damaged centrifuges used to enrich uranium in Iran's nuclear facility setting back the country's nuclear development program. The latest reports indicate Iran is replacing the centrifuges outright because of the damage.
“I can’t say I understand how it was executed, but the important point is, this is expensive to pull off, which means a nation-state was involved,” Black said, adding that cyber-attacks will be “key component” of future conflict against “a nation-state, a rogue state or terrorist groups.”
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