Information is a precious commodity. Governments and corporations need it to remain competitive and adjust to changes in the economic and political environment.
Information is also a double-edged sword that can be a potent weapon if used carefully.
A number of World Wide Web sites are devoted to various aspects of this field, with material ranging from basic definitions for the uninitiated to policy and analysis centers. This Web site gives visitors the scope of the U.S. Air Force's information warfare capabilities. Other hot buttons connect to the Information Warfare Initiative, a program to meet peacetime national security objectives, deter conflict, protect Defense Department information systems, shape the information environment, and promote U.S. forces' freedom of action while hindering adversaries' efforts. The mission of this organization is to serve as the U.S. government's focal point for threat assessment, warning, investigation and response to threats or attacks on critical infrastructures such as telecommunications, energy, banking, finance, water systems, government operations and emergency services. For example, a study of 300 Australian companies conducted by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu found that more than 37 percent had experienced some type of security compromise in 1997.