Many people rely on computers to meet their business, communication, financial planning, and entertainment needs. But for users with malicious intent, computers also can be a weapon of "cyberterrorism."

Computer science professor Hal Berghel defines "cyberterrorism" as the use of computers and networks for premeditated, politically motivated violence. In other words, it"s a high-tech way to instill fear, says the director of the School of Computer Science. Berghel is also the director of UNLV's Center for Cybermedia Research and the Internet Forensics Lab.

"To place things in perspective, the low-tech exploits of the Unibomber and (Oklahoma City bomber) Timothy McVeigh didn"t diminish the ferocity of their actions. The use of modern computer networks just makes the activity of terrorism more efficient and global," says Berghel, who is also a member of a subcommittee of the Nevada Commission on Homeland Security that focuses on cyberterrorism.

At one end of the spectrum, computers are used simply as a communication medium by terrorists. An example, he says, is the use of a watermarked graphic attached to an e-mail to signal the September 11th attacks. "At the opposite extreme, cyberspace is the actual weapon used. Examples would include hack attacks that trigger the unintended use of military weapons systems and the disabling of utility control systems, such as those that maintain power grids and water supplies. At this point, most of the damage is coming from the first extreme. That will change over time."

Such attacks are likely to have an indirect effect on the typical computer and network user because hackers generally distance themselves from the scene of an exploit to avoid detection, he says. But terrorists can use an unsuspecting individual"s computer as a "relay" to carry out attacks.

Hacking exploits cost organizations in terms of lost business and downtime and can halt the activities of home computer users. In August, when several viruses, worms, and Trojan horses were launched, the cost of computer hacking alone was estimated to be more than $30 billion, without producing any physical damage or violence, according to mi2g, a digital security company. The societal costs of cyberfear are difficult to measure however.

The best thing home and office computer users can do, Berghel says, is ensure that their computers have the latest software updates, anti-virus and spyware detection software, and both a hardware and software firewall.

The UNLV Center for Cybermedia Research and the Internet Forensics Lab are working with local, state, and federal agencies to develop software that can be used to help combat cyberterrorism in several different areas.