Matthew G. Devost, Brian K. Houghton, and Neil Allen Pollard

In the following viewpoint, Matthew G. Devost, Brian K. Houghton, and Neil Allen Pollard assert that information terrorism— acts of terrorism that target civilian and military society—is a growing threat. The authors maintain that an increased reliance on technology has made societies more vulnerable to information terrorism. They also contend that technological methods have become more cost-effective to terrorists and hence more appealing. Devost, Houghton, and Pollard are employees of Science Applications International Corporation, a high-technology research and engineering company.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How do Devost, Houghton, and Pollard define political terrorism?
2. According to the authors, what are the dangers of labeling all malicious uses of computer systems terrorism?
3. What dilemmas are unique to combating information terrorism, in the view...