First Advisor

Muscari, Mary

Thesis Committee Member(s)

Lindley, Don

College

College for Professional Studies

Degree Name

MS Criminology

School

School of Humanities & Social Sciences

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Number of Pages

94 pages

Abstract

Terrorism has become a concern for public safety and security and can take on many appearances. However, in recent years the dilemma that presents the most substantial endangerment to public security comes from the threat of leaderless terrorists, also known as "lone wolves." Due to the rapid advancement in technology over the past few decades, societies, specifically the United States, have become dependent upon it economically and socially. Terrorist organizations, as well as the lone wolf terrorist, understand that their enemies rely on technology in order to function and have recently redirected their efforts towards cyberspace. As a result, cyber-terrorism has become one of the greatest imminent threats to national security. This literature review presents an analysis of the issues and challenges faced in dealing with modern day terrorism in the forms of lone wolf terrorism and cyber terrorism. Why has this increase in lone wolf attacks occurred? Why are lone wolf terrorists more dangerous than terrorist organizations? What threat do cyber terrorist attacks present to the world, specifically from lone wolves? Why should cyber terrorist attacks be as great a concern as physical attacks? How can both of these forms of terrorism actually have an effect on society and a government's infrastructure? Lone wolf terrorism presents a clear and imminent threat to national and international security. In light of this, the following research seeks to answer the question: Is there an imminent threat that the next major terrorist attack will come from a lone wolf cyber terrorist? An in-depth understanding of previous lone wolf terrorists and cyber terrorism, as well as the attacks that have been committed, is needed in order to combat future problems.

Date of Award

Fall 2014

Location (Creation)

Colorado (state); Denver (county); Denver (inhabited place)

Rights Statement

All content in this Collection is owned by and subject to the exclusive control of Regis University and the authors of the materials. It is available only for research purposes and may not be used in violation of copyright laws or for unlawful purposes. The materials may not be downloaded in whole or in part without permission of the copyright holder or as otherwise authorized in the “fair use” standards of the U.S. copyright laws and regulations.

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