Cyber Attacks In The Military

Today's technology is evolving at an unprecedented rate making the use, and misuse, of cyberspace easily accessible to anyone with access to a computer, smartphone, and the internet. Many governments realize how invaluable of an asset the internet is and have integrated it as an integral part of their nation's infrastructure and society. Unfortunately, whether it be by way of an individual person or a national institution, it is not uncommon to have enemies' attempting to exploit weaknesses. Having an accumulated 18 years of service in the military; and seeing first-hand the integration of the internet for military communication and coordination, I have witnessed numerous cyber-attacks on our nation and individuals over the span of my military …show more content…
While attacks on institutions are ongoing, I believe that attacks on individuals are a greater threat to our nation. Institutions like the Department of Defense (DOD) or even the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), are well protected and have protocols in place to counter cyber-attacks. Individuals, however, are less likely to practice good cyber-awareness therefore making these persons likely and susceptible targets to attacks. In an article published on cnbc.com, writers stated how vulnerable the United States is as a whole. After an in-depth interview with an expert in cyber warfare, cnbc went on to state, "Attacks such as the cybersecurity breach at the Office of Personnel Management in 2015, have reportedly given key information to governments like China that can be used to blackmail American citizens working with sensitive information" (Amaro, Gamble, 2018). Poor decisions made by internet users have jeopardized sensitive information and created scandals that damaged our governments image not only to the public, but the rest of the world as well. A perfect example being the Hillary Clinton email