This would be a disaster on an almost unimaginable scale, Gannon notes. The best defense against cyberspace attacks would involve examining hacker activity, observing the capabilities that they demonstrate, and noting the vulnerabilities that they expose, he adds. The threat in cyberspace is complemented by threats to U.S. space systems, Gannon notes. Several nations, including possibly nonstate actors, could have the ability to damage satellites or their ground installations. The intelligence community is wrestling with how to evaluate that threat and predict its evolution over the next several years, he adds.
Biotechnology is another emerging area of concern.
Unfortunately, many of these technologies are dual-use that, if put in the hands of terrorists or those who have grievances, can be used for biological warfare purposes. The challenge is to understand the growing capabilities, how to access them, and the motivations and intentions of those who would actually use them as biological weapons. Gannon predicts that, over the next 15 years, small regional conflicts will engage the United States and the international community to an increasing degree. Refugee crises easily can cause regional instability that can spill over borders and affect many nations. A related problem is the spread of disease.