On the heels of two recent cyberattacks in California, a report published Friday noted that recent polls indicate Americans are more concerned about cyber attacks than terrorism or nuclear war.
“We know all the terrorist groups are recruiting young computer specialists,” said Scott White, an associate professor and director of the cybersecurity program at the George Washington University cited by The Hill’s report. “It’s no longer bombs. It’s, ‘Can you launch a cyberattack from a safe-haven country against the United States?’”
In February, Oakland, Calif., was the victim of a cyberattack that it was still reeling from in March. Modesto, Calif., was also the victim of a cyberattack in February.
According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, one in three homes have computer infected malicious software, 47% of Americans have had their personal information stolen by cyber criminals and 600,000 accounts are hacked daily. Last month, the White House released information about a new national cybersecurity strategy.
The Hill also cited polls from the Pew Research Center and Gallup in its report on cyberattack concerns.
According to Gallup’s World Affairs survey results released late last month, “Americans are more likely to regard cyberterrorism as a ‘critical threat’ to U.S. vital interests than to say this about 10 other international matters,” with 84% labelling cyberterrorism a critical threat. Concerns about North Korea’s and Iran’s nuclear weapons stockpiles were also high on the list.
This survey was conducted in February, around the time the U.S. shot down what has been identified as a Chinese spy balloon over the Carolina coast. Results also showed that Americans are concerned about China as a military and economic power. Recently, Congress questioned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about the digital media sharing company’s connections to China.
Pew poll results from last summer also found that 71% of U.S. adults described cyberattacks from other countries as a major threat, along with 70% who considered online misinformation a major threat. At that time, 67% were concerned about China’s power and influence and 64% were concerned about Russia’s. Gallup’s poll found that concerns about Russia as a military threat are waning as its invasion of Ukraine continues.
While Americans’ concerns about cyberattacks have increased, the Doomsday Clock tracking the likelihood of global catastrophe has said that now is a “time of unprecedented danger,” mostly due to the war in Ukraine and the vulnerability of nuclear power sites there. Last month Audacy reported on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plans regarding nuclear war.
James Lewis, a senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, was also cited in The Hill’s report.
“It is a new thing,” he said of cybersecurity concerns. “People are afraid of technology, particularly when they don’t understand it.”
Lewis and some other experts believe that fears about cybersecurity might be “overblown,” said The Hill. He doesn’t believe that there is a great threat that the U.S. will be the target of a military cyberattack by other nations.
“The Russians or the Chinese aren’t going to do a cyberattack unless they think war is imminent,” he said.
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