Cyberterrorism Tops List of 11 Potential Threats to U.S.

As the Biden administration continues to explore how it will respond to Russia's large-scale cyberattack against U.S. companies and federal agencies last year, 82% of Americans say cyberterrorism is a "critical threat" to the vital interests of the U.S. over the next decade.

While cyberterrorism ranks atop a list of 11 potential threats to the U.S., the development of nuclear weapons by North Korea and by Iran are not far behind, with 77% and 75% of U.S. adults, respectively, considering them to be critical threats. Four other matters are likewise viewed as critical threats by majorities in the U.S.: international terrorism (72%), the spread of infectious diseases throughout the world (72%), China's economic power (63%), and global warming or climate change (58%).

Forty-six percent of Americans view large numbers of immigrants trying to enter the U.S. as a critical threat to the country, although that measure was taken before the recent influx of immigrants, including many unaccompanied minors, attempting to enter the U.S at the southern border.