Cyber terrorism

For a long time I believed that Cyber Terrorsim was something that existed only in books like Dan Brown's Digital Fortress. As a matter of fact Wiki writes this: September 11, 2001 lead to further media coverage of the potential threats of cyberterrorism in the years following. Mainstream media coverage often discusses the possibility of a large attack making use of computer networks to sabotage critical infrastructures with the aim of putting human lives in jeopardy or causing disruption on a national scale either directly or by disruption of the national economy.

That corresponds with my narrow view on the subject. Of course I remember 1999, when I could witness the defacing of some Nato websites and later the retaliation of the Chinese for the 'accidental' bombing of their embassy during the Kosovo crisis. But cyber terrorism is different league.

Some hours ago the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) supposedly warned financial institutions for an upcoming attack on their systems. Al-Qaida would carry out cyber attacks on the U.S. financial industry to retaliate for abuses at the Guantanamo Bay prison facility.

Would there finally be an attack this winter?