(Photo by Capt. Carrie Kessler/U.S. Air Force)

As the 21st century progresses, world powers have begun to acknowledge a new battlefield for future wars: cyberspace. The New York Times, for example, revealed that the U.S. debated using cyber warfare in its initial strikes against Libya before giving way to conventional military means.

Hal Berghel, professor of computer science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, will explore this topic for the 15th annual Spencer & Spencer Math and Computer Science Lecture at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Berghel will discuss “Cyber Warfare: Stuxnet and Beyond” at 7 p.m. April 25 in 118 Social Sciences & Business Building at UMSL. The lecture is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested.

Berghel is the founding director of the Identity Theft and Financial Fraud Research and Operations Center. His research has received both industry and government support for more than 30 years. His most recent work in secure credentialing technology was funded by the Department of Justice.

Berghel’s lecture will include an overview of cyber warfare from both technical and cultural perspectives. Several existing cyber warfare threats will be discussed, including the most effective and complete cyber attack launched to date: Stuxnet, a malicious computer program used by an unidentified entity against Iran to delay the country’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons. The talk will conclude with an open discussion.

UMSL alumnus Robert Spencer funds the lecture, which is co-sponsored by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at UMSL.

The Social Sciences & Business Building is on UMSL’s North Campus, One University Blvd. in St. Louis County, Mo. 63121. Call 314-516-6355 or email traoregressr@umsl.edu to make reservations or for more information.