Security and Privacy in Cyber-Physical Systems

Chapter 4Cyber-Physical Systems and National Security Concerns

Jeff Kosseff

Cyber Science Department, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, USA

4.1 Introduction

On October 12, 2012, Leon Panetta, the then US Defense Secretary, made international headlines when he urged the public to rethink their conception of cybersecurity.

Panetta acknowledged that cybersecurity is typically associated with theft of identities, intellectual property, and even national security information. Those threats, however, pale in comparison to a “greater danger” in cyberspace. “A cyber attack perpetrated by nation states or violent extremist groups could be as destructive as the terrorist attack on 9/11,” Panetta said. “Such a destructive cyber-terrorist attack could virtually paralyze a nation” (Panetta, 2012).

For example, Panetta said, cyber-attackers could cause trains to derail or power grids to fail. The attack could be a “cyber Pearl Harbor,” Panetta said, “an attack that would cause physical destruction and the loss of life. In fact, it would paralyze and shock the nation and create a new, profound sense of vulnerability.”

Few phrases have received more attention in recent technology press coverage than the “Internet of Things.” The rapidly increasing trend of connecting physical devices to the Internet presents countless possibilities for customer goods, business productivity, and economic growth. Not surprisingly, Internet of Things excites technology companies, investors, and consumers. ...