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ERIC Number: EJ1332787
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Feb
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2472-2707
EISSN: N/A
A Taxonomy of Cyberattacks against Critical Infrastructure
Plachkinova, Miloslava; Vo, Ace
Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice, v2021 n2 Article 3 Feb 2022
The current study proposes a taxonomy to organize existing knowledge on cybercrimes against critical infrastructure such as power plants, water treatment facilities, dams, and nuclear facilities. Routine Activity Theory is used to inform a three-dimensional taxonomy with the following dimensions: hacker motivation (likely offender), cyber, physical, and cyber-physical components of any cyber-physical system (suitable target), and security (capable guardian). The focus of the study is to develop and evaluate the classification tool using Design Science Research (DSR) methodology. Publicly available data was used to evaluate the utility and usability of the proposed artifact by exploring three possible scenarios -- Stuxnet, the Ukrainian power grid shut down, and ransomware attacks. While similar taxonomies exist, none of them have been verified due to the sensitive nature of the data and this would be one of the first empirically validated frameworks to explore cyberattacks against critical infrastructure. By better understanding these attacks, we can be better prepared to prevent and respond to incidents.
Kennesaw State University. 1000 Chastain Road, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144. Tel: 470-578-3568; e-mail: cybersec@kennesaw.edu; Web site: https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/jcerp/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Two Year Colleges
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United States; Ukraine; Iran
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A