Code Wars: America's Cyber Threat

About the Show

CNBC goes inside a 21st century war in cyber space where national security, the economy and critical infrastructure are at risk. In a world without borders, do we have the defenses to keep us safe?I

In the United States, we are Internet dependent. Our financial systems, power grids, telecommunications, water supplies, flight controls and military communications are all online – making them vulnerable to countless attacks by cyber criminals. The goal could be a 10-minute blackout, an attack on our national security, a stock trading glitch or the theft of millions of dollars worth of intellectual property. The FBI has recently made cyber crime a number one priority, one that costs the U.S. an estimated trillion dollars a year.

CNBC's "Code Wars", hosted by Melissa Lee , takes you onto the frontlines of the war on cyber. Cyber attacks are almost impossible to trace, making cyber crime and acts of cyber warfare the ultimate anonymous crime. So how do we protect our systems whose components are largely manufactured abroad? Can our nation's infrastructure be protected from cyber attacks? And how can the U.S. win a war in which conventional rules of combat do not apply? CNBC tackles the tough questions in "Code Wars: America's Cyber Threat."

Web Extras

  • The definition of cyber security seems to be ever evolving, but the more common definition appears to relate to the protection applied to computers and networks and the information they store/relay. Over the last few years there has been no lack of media reports regarding cyber break-ins, identity theft and more — all going a long way to highlight/identify the problem, but representing only the tip of the iceberg.The crux of the threat seems to be that our reliance on networks grows more interco

    Have a look at EarlyBird Capital analyst Alex Hamilton's list of companies that stand to gain the most from the growing demand for cyber security.

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    By: John Moore|Special to CNBC.com

    No one wants to see the hackers who prey on cyber security flaws profit from their actions. But given the widespread nature of the threat, investors have an opportunity to capitalize on a sector that’s only growing in importance.

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    By: Chris Morris|Special to CNBC.com

    Recent security breaches and hacker attacks have consumers worred about the safety and privacy of their personal and financial data. Here's how to protect yourself from online criminals.

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    By: Peter Suciu |Special to CNBC.com

    Banks, credit unions and other financial institutions that move money are square in the cyber criminals' crosshairs, but they're not the only ones in danger. Defense industries and governmental institutions are also being targeted.

  • lock_laptop.jpg
    By: Kate Murphy|The New York Times

    Some simple software lets just about anyone sitting next to you at your local coffee shop watch you browse the Web and even assume your identity online. Te New York Times reports.

  • Is your city more likely than others to fall prey to cyber crime?  Symantec Corporation, one of the world’s largest makers of antivirus software and the independent research firm Sperling’s BestPlaces, collaborated on a report that ranks the top 50 cities most at risk for cyber crime.The rankings are based on anumber of factors, including cyber crimes reported, level of Internet access, expenditures on computer hardware and software, wireless hotspots, broadband connectivity, Internet usage and

    Is your city more likely than others to fall prey to cyber crime? Click to find out.

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