IW weapons

IW weapons
*Computer Viruses
*Worms
*Trojan Horses
*Logic Bombs
*Trap Doors
*Chipping
*Nano machines and Microbes
*Electronic Jamming
*HERF Guns - EMP Bombs
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==Computer viruses==
"A virus is a code fragment that copies itself into a larger program,
modifying that program. A virus executes only when its host program begins
to run. The virus then replicates itself, infecting other programs as it
reproduces." 
Viruses are well known in every computer based environment, so that it is
not astonishing that this type of rough program is used in the Information
Warfare. We could imagine that the CIA (or Army, Air Force ....) inserts
computer viruses into the switching networks of the enemy's phone system. As
today's telephone systems are switched by computers, you can shut them down,
or at least causing massive failure, with a virus as easy that you can shut
down a "normal" computer. An example what the damage a virus could cause
exists. We can compare it with the system crash of AT&T long distance
switching system on January 15, 1990.
==Worms==
"A worm is an independent program. It reproduces by copying itself in
full-blown fashion from one computer to another, usually over a network.
Unlike a virus, it usually doesn't modify other programs."
Also if worms don't destroy data (like the Internet Worm),
they can cause the loss of communication with only eating up resources and
spreading through the networks. A worm can also easily be modified so that
data deletion or worse occurs. With a "wildlife" like this, I could imagine
breaking down a networked environment like a ATM and banking network.
==Trojan horses==
"A Trojan horse is a code fragment that hides inside a program and performs
a disguised function. It's a popular mechanism for disguising a virus or a
worm"
A trojan horse could be camouflaged as a security related tool for example
like SATAN (Security Administrating Tool for Analyzing Networks). SATAN
checks UNIX system for security holes and is freely available on the
Internet. If someone edits this program so that it sends discovered security
holes in an e-mail message back to him (lets also include the password file?
No problem), the Cracker learns much information about vulnerable hosts and
servers. A clever written trojan horse does not leave traces of its presence
and because it does not cause detectable damage, it is hard to detect.
==Logic bombs==
"A bomb is a type of Trojan horse, used to release a virus, a worm or some
other system attack. It's either an independent program or a piece of code
that's been planted by a system developer or programmer."
With the overwhelming existence of US based software (e.g. MS Windows or
UNIX systems), the US Government, or whomever you would like to imagine,
could decide that no software would be allowed to be exported from that
country without a Trojan horse. This hidden function could become active
when a document with "war against the USA" exists on the computer. Its
activation could also be triggered from the outside. An effect could be to
format the computers harddisks or to mail the document to the CIA.
==Trap doors==
"A trap door, or a back door, is a mechanism that's built into a system by
its designer. The function of a trap door is to give the designer a way to
sneak back into the system, circumventing normal system protection."
As I mentioned in the last section, all US software could be equipped with a
trap door that would allow IW agencies to explore systems and the stored
data on foreign countries. This could be most useful in cases of military
strategic simulations and plans and would provide the DoD's intelligence
with vital information.
==Chipping==
Just as software can contain unexpected functions, it is also possible to
implement similar functions in hardware. Today's chips contain millions of
integrated circuits that can easily be configured by the manufacturer so
that they also contain some unexpected functions. They could be built so
that they fail after a certain time, blow up after they receive a signal on
a specific frequency, or send radio signals that allow identification of
their exact location - the number of possible scenarios exceeds, by far, the
scope of this paper. The main problem with chipping is that the specific
(adapted) chip be installed in the place that is useful for the Information
Warrior. The easiest solution is to built the additional features into all
the chips manufactured in the country that is interested in this type of IW.
==Nano machines and Microbes==
Nano machines and Microbes provide the possibility to cause serious harm to
a system. Unlike viruses, we can use these to attack not the software but
the hardware of a computer system. Nano machines are tiny robots (smaller
than ants) that could be spread at an information center of the enemy. They
crawl through the halls and offices until they find a computer. They are so
small that they enter the computer through slots and shut down electronic
circuits.
Another way to damage the hardware is a special breed of microbes. We know
that they can eat oil, what about if they were bred for eating silizium?
They would destroy all integrated circuits in a computer lab, a site, a
building, a town.......
==Electronic jamming==
In the old days (and even today) electronic jamming was used to block
communications channels at the enemy's equipment so that they can't receive
any information. The next step is not to block their traffic, but instead
overwhelm them with incorrect information. This type of disinformation can
also be combined with the possibilities described in the section "soft war"
==HERF Guns==
HERF stands for High Energy Radio Frequency. HERF guns are able to shoot a
high power radio signal at an electronic target and put it out of function.
The damage can be moderate (e.g. that a system shuts down, but can be
restarted) or severe (e.g. the system hardware has been physically damaged).
Electronic circuits are more vulnerable to overload that most people would
suspect. This mechanism uses HERF guns with big success. In essence, HERF
guns are nothing but radio transmitters. They send a concentrated radio
signal to the target. The target can be a mainframe inside a business
building, an entire network in a building, or as today's planes and cars are
stuffed with electronic equipment, the target can even be a moving vehicle
with all the inherent dangers for the people who are inside.
==EMP Bombs==
EMP stands for electromagnetic pulse. The source can be a nuclear or a
non-nuclear detonation. It can be used by special forces teams who
infiltrate the enemy's and detonate a device near their electronic devices.
It destroys the electronics of all computer and communication systems in a
quite large area. The EMP bomb can be smaller than a HERF gun to cause a
similar amount of damage and is typically used to damage not a single target
(not aiming in one direction) but to damage all equipment near the bomb.
Category:Second Cold War