About half of Americans fear terrorists will launch cyberattacks on the large networks that operate the banking, electrical transportation and water systems, disrupting everyday life and possibly crippling economic activity, according to a survey conducted by Federal Computer Week and the . . .
About half of Americans fear terrorists will launch cyberattacks on the large networks that operate the banking, electrical transportation and water systems, disrupting everyday life and possibly crippling economic activity, according to a survey conducted by Federal Computer Week and the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Some 49 percent of those surveyed said they were afraid of cyberassaults on key parts of the U.S. economy. A significant gender gap showed up in the data, as women were more likely to express fear. People in the Midwest were the most concerned about cyberterrorism.

According to experts, Americans tend to discount the devastating effects a computer virus or attack can have on the financial, transportation and health industries. But the high percentage of Americans who fear an attack -- coupled with the fact the poll was taken before the Blaster worm infected millions of computers worldwide and prior to the electrical blackout in the Northeast and Canada -- indicate that the public's awareness of the issue, and their fear, has increased.

The link for this article located at Federal Computer Week is no longer available.