Combating Terrorism Funding Through Ransomware Hack Interdisciplinary Analysis

Abstract

The Growth of terrorism Funding with the help of Ransomware Hacks: An interdisciplinary Analysis Student’s Name Institution Affiliation Instructor’s Name Abstract Cybercrime is a global threat and takes various forms of attacks. This discussion will focus mainly on cyberterrorism. the topic is ‘The growth of terrorism funding due to the increased ransomware attacks.’ This paper takes an interdisciplinary approach using foreign affairs, psychology, criminology/ criminal justice, and cybersecurity. The research uses empirical research studies from each discipline. The analysis uses a 10-step Interdisciplinary Process by evaluating insights and theories, identifying conflicts between insights and sources, identifying commonalities between insights and sources, integrating insights and sources, and offering an interdisciplinary understanding of the growth of terrorism funding with the help of ransomware hacks. The four disciplines focus on the fight against cyberterrorism and how to find solutions for the issue. Education on cybercrime is the central issue approved by all four policies. The Growth of terrorism Funding with the help of Ransomware Hacks: An interdisciplinary Analysis Cybercrime is a global threat, and criminals use technical infrastructure to enact their criminal activities. Malicious cyber-attacks are a threat to public safety and economic security. Ransomware attacks are a form of cyberterrorism that entails malware that holds data or information systems hostage until the victim pays a ransom. According to (Aidan et al., 2017), ransomware attacks are the greatest cybersecurity threat in the United States. The United States has seen a rise in high-profile criminality due to ransomware attacks making it a concern to many US entities. Cybercrime attributed to cyberterrorism is aimed at causing chaos, influencing damage and the loss of lives, and supporting political activism. Terrorists are taking advantage of ransomware hacks to fund their criminal activities. Cyberterrorists attack take a wide range of entities, including; the banking industry, military installations, power plants, air traffic control centers, and water systems. The question arises of how to combat ransomware attacks in an attempt to curb cyberterrorism, and this paper will draw insights from multiple disciplines to answer the complex question. Applying an Interdisciplinary approach. Cyberterrorism is a complex subject that requires critical analysis through various disciplines to determine a viable solution. The scope of cyber terrorism is adverse and encompasses multiple disciplines, including ransomware attacks, hacking, phishing, and computer viruses. Ransomware attacks contain unauthorized access to information, the disruption of major websites, and the disruption of critical infrastructure systems. Cyberterrorism is a vast and critical subject. Applying an interdisciplinary approach will help explain the various approaches to curbing ransomware attacks attributed to terrorist funding. Terrorists are advancing, and they are taking their attacks to the internet to access finances. This discussion will draw insights from relevant disciplines of cybersecurity, foreign policy, psychology, criminology, and criminal justice to explain terrorism funding using ransomware attacks. The key to countering ransom attacks is cybersecurity. There is a need for cyber security experts to combat ransomware attacks. Ransomware attacks can be curbed through regular backup systems, periodic monitoring techniques, antivirus, and antimalware. Cybersecurity is a technical field that requires adequate knowledge. Cybersecurity knowledge does not come with formal training. Ransomware uses vectors to access a computer system, and the vectors are delivered to the computer through phishing. It is a dangerous activity and can lead to the bankruptcy of an organization. Technology has provided a wide range of opportunities attributed to cyber security, and some of the cybersecurity measures include ethical hacking and artificial intelligence. Ethical hacking means that you have to think like a hacker to beat one. Artificial intelligence is used in performing cyber security tasks. It helps in the analysis of millions of programs to find solutions. The criminal justice defines ransomware attacks as the use of malicious software to deny users access to data and information systems to extort ransom payments from victims. According to (Westerhorstmann, 2015), the federal law provides potential approaches to combat terrorist attacks; for instance, federal criminal laws, such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), can be used to prosecute those who perpetrate ransomware attacks. Individuals who help develop ransomware technology may also be put into question. The FBI is responsible for investigating ransomware attacks. Criminals using ransomware demand payment through cryptocurrency, and they manage it due to its largely untraceable nature. Terrorist organizations demand payment through ransomware; however, these payments are considered illegal under the law. The FBI ought to track these individuals, perform cross-border chases, and extradition. Extradition involves bringing the trackers to the United States justice system with the help of law enforcement agencies such as Interpol and Europol. Responding to international cyber-attacks requires the intervention of foreign policies. According to (Dandurand,2021), the United States updated an International Counter-Ransomware initiative with over 30 countries and the European Union to accelerate cooperation to counter ransomware. It is sometimes very difficult to prosecute ransomware attackers, especially when they are on another continent and the attacks occur virtually. According to (Choo, 2011), bringing the ransomware attackers to justice is a more complex process involving a web of local, federal, and even international authorities. The process is tedious and may take process to find justice. Terrorists are demanding millions of dollars through the use of cryptocurrency. We live in an era of multimedia and technology, and the internet is accessible to all people, adults or children. According to (Rahman et al., 2020), knowledge and education on cybersecurity should be availed at a younger age to cultivate a culture of cyber safety awareness on a global scale. Education is an essential discipline that helps understand and deal with ransomware attacks. Learning creates awareness which helps scholars gain insight into cybersecurity threats. Students are taught the various types of cybersecurity threats and how to combat them. Evaluation of Insights and Theories. Each of the four insights must be evaluated in relation to the topic of study to ascertain how conclusions were made through the various insights and theories. Cybersecurity is much concerned with technical measures relating to critical infrastructure. Much focus is put on computer learning and ways to counterattack cyberterrorism. The foreign policy approach entails collaborating with international agencies and different countries and forming lobby organizations to prevent cyberterrorism. The aim is to gain a harmonious insight into curbing the menace without interfering with the country’s policies. Education is concerned with machine learning, creating awareness, and the general use of the internet. Finally, the Department of Criminal justice entails enforcing the law the cyberterrorists and tracking them down through various means. These disciplines are examined accordingly with respect to fighting the growth of terrorism funding through terrorist attacks. The criminal justice department of various countries is doomed to use the criminal justice machinery. “…few studies have been done on cyber-crime victims, their overall treatment by the criminal justice machinery, and the impact of cyber-crime victims on society as a whole.” (Halder, 2021) Ransomware attacks are common in countries harbored by terrorists and industrialized nations since terrorists are assured of adequate funding from multi-billion companies. The United States, China, and Russia are not left behind as industrialized nations that probe ransomware attacks periodically. Cyberterrorism entailing ransomware gains insight from developed nations and countries with active terror attacks. The United States has signed treaties with other nations to counterattack ransomware attacks. However, this is not a viable solution since some nations, such as China and Russia, have not apprehended the policy. The United States can access and track down ransomware attackers when they flee to countries in mutual agreement to curb ransomware attacks....