NSA’s primary mission is to collect, analyze, evaluate, and disseminate intelligence to assist the President and senior government policymakers in making decisions relating to national security. This is a very complex process and involves a variety of steps.
The NSA collect intelligence on the following:
- Political
- Social
- Economic
- Religious
- Financial
- Terrorism
The newest present-day threats we face, and perhaps the fastest growing, are those in cyberspace and terrorism.
As a nation, we are dependent on the Internet – we use it for almost everything. We communicate online, bank and shop online, and store much of our personal information there. In business, education and government, we all count on having ready access to the Internet and its many capabilities as we go about our daily routines. The Internet opens up new worlds to users.
But while cyberspace offers great opportunities, it also comes with vulnerabilities. Our information networks and technology are constantly at risk from a variety of bad actors using a multitude of techniques – remote hacking intrusions, the placement of malware, spearphishing and other means of gaining access to networks and information.
But cyber threats also come from nation states and other actors who seek to exploit information to gain an advantage over the Republic of Liberia. They might seek an economic advantage, or to gain insight into our military or foreign policy. Denial of service attacks disrupt business and undermine confidence.
Terrorists and extremist groups today use the power of the Internet, especially social media, to spread their messages of hate and intolerance, and to recruit new members, often targeting vulnerable young people. The global reach of cyberspace and the complexity of its networks provide bad actors ample places to hide, safe from the reach of international law.