System disruption or destruction

Attacks against the integrity of systems are rarely focused on economic benefit for the attacker. Instead, the attacks are focused on harming the victim. As a result, these types of attacks are often the domain of hacktivists, terrorists, and nation states. These attacks are designed to deface or destroy systems.

The first type of attack is an attack on critical infrastructure.

Attacks on critical infrastructure

Many people believe attacks on truly critical infrastructure are the worst-case scenario. It could be argued that the Colonial Pipeline attack was the closest to a critical infrastructure attack we have seen in the United States. However, there have been large-scale critical infrastructure attacks in other parts of the world. The Colonial Pipeline attack was a ransomware attack. Attacks on critical infrastructure that are designed to cause damage rather than to compel a company to pay a ransom can be far more destructive. A very good...