Special Edition Calls for Less Doom, More Data in Cybersecurity

Ebombs, cyberterrorism, and all-out-cyberwarfare, these phrases are used to invoke fears of massive blackouts, hacked nuclear bombs, and society coming to a complete stop with the stroke of a few keys. The problem is that this picture doesn’t reflect reality.

While the unknowns of cyber-related incidents make good fiction, they also lead to misunderstandings about how these conflicts impact everyday people. The rampant hyperbole surrounding cyber-conflict has created widespread uncertainty, which prompted Assistant Professor Ryan Shandler to lead a special issue at the Journal of Peace Research (JPR) dedicated to separating fact from fiction.