Cyber-Attack Attributes

Abstract

Cyber-attacks threaten our ability to use the Internet safely, productively, and creatively worldwide and are at the core of many security concerns. The concept of cyber-attacks, however, remains underdeveloped in the academic literature. To advance theory, design and operate databases to support scholarly research, perform empirical observations, and compare different types of cyber-attacks, it is necessary to first clarify the attributes of the "concept of cyber-attack". In this article, attributes of cyber-attacks are identified by examining definitions of cyber-attacks from the literature and information on ten high-profile attacks. Although the article will be of interest to a broad community, it will be of particular interest to senior executives, government contractors, and researchers interested in contributing to the development of an interdisciplinary and global theory of cybersecurity.