meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Inquiry

Is Cyber Warfare Really That Scary?

The Inquiry

BBC

News Commentary, News

4.61.7K Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2015

⏱️ 24 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Last month Nato ran a military exercise involving over 400 people from 16 countries. It was the most advanced ‘live-fire’ cyber-defence exercise ever carried out. The point of it all? To help Nato countries prepare for an all-out cyber attack. The former US Secretary of Defence, Leon Panetta, has said “there's a strong likelihood that the next Pearl Harbor could very well be a cyber attack that cripples our power system or our grid, our security systems, our financial systems, our governmental systems. This is a real possibility in today's world”. But how real is the threat of cyber warfare? Four expert witness help us separate fact from fiction.

(Photo:Binary code cyber war. Credit: Profit_Image/Shutterstock)

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Just before this BBC podcast gets underway, here's something you may not know.

0:04.7

My name's Linda Davies and I Commission Podcasts for BBC Sounds.

0:08.5

As you'd expect, at the BBC we make podcasts of the very highest quality featuring the most knowledgeable experts and genuinely engaging voices.

0:18.0

What you may not know is that the BBC makes podcasts about all kinds of things like pop stars,

0:24.6

poltergeist, cricket, and conspiracy theories and that's just a few examples.

0:29.7

If you'd like to discover something a little bit unexpected, find your next podcast over at BBC

0:35.4

Sounds.

0:36.4

BBC World Service, this is Helen and Merriman with the inquiry.

0:43.0

This week, how scary is cyber warfare.

0:48.0

Two weeks ago on a clear morning in the North Atlantic,

0:52.0

the island of Burrillia came under attack.

0:55.2

Hackers broke into the networks of its drone manufacturing plant, taking control of the

1:00.5

machines. A team of Burrilli brilliant cyber warriors set out to find those responsible.

1:06.0

Just a few hours later, its power grid went down.

1:11.0

There was panic, and amidst the panic, talk of a full-on cyber war with a neighboring

1:17.0

state of crimsonia. Now, don't worry if you've never heard of Burrillia or Krimsonia.

1:24.7

As you've probably guessed, they're not real countries.

1:28.0

This was a NATO military exercise that took place in April,

1:31.4

involving over 400 people from 16 countries.

1:35.0

NATO says it was the most advanced live-fire cyber defense exercise ever carried out.

1:42.0

The point of it all? To help countries prepare for cyber war.

1:47.2

Here's how former US Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, described the threat a few years ago.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.