A Definition of Cyber-terrorism

The execution of a surprise attack by a subnational foreign terrorist group, or individuals with a domestic political agenda, using computer technology and the Internet to cripple or disable a nation's electronic and physical infrastructures. The goal is to not only hurt the economy of a region or country, but also to amplify the effects of a traditional physical terrorist attack by causing additional confusion and panic. It can also take the form of a physical attack -- without ever touching a computer keyboard -- that destroys critical Internet, communications and electric power nodes.

Author: Dan Verton, ComputerWorld