GPPi fellow discusses computer hacking on NPR program The World

On 16 January 2012, GPPi Fellow Tim Maurer was interviewed for the national public radio program The World, produced by BBC World Services, Public Radio International and WGBH in Boston. The piece focused on computer hacking in light of the cyber-attacks in Israel that took place earlier that day.

Maurer argued that it is important to distinguish different types of cyber attacks. He pointed out that the phenomenon of hacking needs to be broken down by the different types of hacking as well as the different types of hacker. Without a more differentiated approach, he sees a risk of oversimplifying a very complex phenomenon that includes, for example, hacking by criminals to make a profit and hacking by activists or states for political purposes.

With regard to the recent activity in cyberspace concerning Israel, Maurer highlighted that it is not an isolated cyber war but rather part of the larger political conflict. Responding to a question by radio host Marco Werman, Maurer anticipates that there will be an increase in cyber-attacks and an increase in cyber warfare in support of traditional types of warfare in the future.

Listen to or download the segment How Good is Cyber-Security Worldwide?