Fourth generation warfare strategies allow small groups to conduct attacks successfully against a much larger, more powerful and better equipped enemy. Warfighters target vulnerable points in a State's infrastructure and social fabric and exploit fallout from the State's reprisals.
Internet connectivity and the rapid advancement of technology are making it possible for smaller and smaller groups to challenge the State in this way. As self-fabrication technologies advance (not only computer-controller CNC machines to build complex mechanical parts from templates, but also whole laboratories to produce tailored viruses are available to anyone with enough money and experience) and more infrastructure becomes dependent on networked systems, the size at which a fourth generation force becomes effective shrinks; the end-game of this process is the Superempowered Individual.
One person can have the skills and motivation to inflict significant damage on the State. The Unabomber is the classic example of this, but letter bombs are unnecessary when you can unleash massive denial of service attacks against the underlying technology, from the comfort of your living room.
Police have raided the home of the alleged ringleader of an international group of cybercriminals said to be responsible for infecting more than one million computers.
The raid was conducted earlier this week at the New Zealand residence of the alleged botmaster, known online as AKILL. It was part of a joint effort by New Zealand police and the FBI.
Of course, AKILL is the provider of a service (worth, according to the media, $26 million), an arms dealer. His customer, in this case, leased AKILL's services to target a specific web presence in response to year-old forum drama.
If his target had been the Inland Revenue Department's website, say 6 hours before the yearly filing deadline, we wouldn't be perversely proud that this kid is a New Zealander. Power failures aren't the only things that can take out critical infrastructure.
The solution? Expensive, distributed resiliency in all networks throughout a society. This means providing your own power, security, food distribution and healthcare at the community level; if a 4GW entity decides to blow up the generator in the town next door, your community is not affected.
The same technological changes that empower individuals to perform acts of destruction against the State also empower people to protect themselves from such attacks. "Eco-friendly" power generation (home solar panels, small hydroelectric generators) can provide electricity for entire communities, and carbon water filters can be purchased in any supermarket.
Although a small, resilient community might not have the size or infrastructure to support (for example) an iPod factory, security and safety comes first. If the alternative is 4 hours of electricity a day, massive unemployment and hundreds of fellow citizens killed, you'll do without your shiny designer toys.
Ironically, self-sufficient and resilient communities also mean that the State becomes redundant. Primary loyalties in action.