Post: Cyber Attacks are now "Acts of war" - Look out all of you young hackers!
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06-01-2011, 09:35 PM
#1
Mudkip
Retired Moderator
US Pentagon to treat cyber-attacks as 'acts of war'
Source: You must login or register to view this content. Announced: 17:30, 1st June
The US government are now planning to publish plans which will categorize a cyber attack (E.g. what Anonymous do) as an "Act of War"
Originally posted by another user
In future, a US president could consider economic sanctions, cyber-retaliation or a military strike if key US computer systems were attacked, officials have said recently.
The planning was given added urgency by a cyber-attack last month on the defence contractor, Lockheed Martin.
The planning was given added urgency by a cyber-attack last month on the defence contractor, Lockheed Martin.
We all know about the Lockheed Martin Attack (Lockheed Martin make F-16 Fighter Jets, their system was compromised but a security managed to lock down the system so that none of it's programs were compromised).
A new statement is dew in the coming weeks from the pentagon
The Pentagon spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan stated:
Originally posted by another user
"A response to a cyber-incident or attack on the US would not necessarily be a cyber-response. All appropriate options would be on the table,"
The spokesman confirmed that the pentagon were building a cyber defense strategy that would be ready in the coming weeks which will hopefully reduce the amount of cyber attacks that are to come. Cyber attacks from other nations outside the US that threaten casualties of US civilians and other threats to the civilians o the US such as the shutdown of power and the shutting down of emergency-responder networks will now be "treated as an act of aggression" under the new policy that is going to be introduced. The new policy does not state what the US will do if another cyber attack happens and how they will deal with it, such as terrorists who are not acting for a certain nation.
What will be the outcome of an attack
All of the following quotes are form the White house and other military officials in the US:
Originally posted by another user
The US would "respond to hostile acts in cyberspace as we would to any other threat to our country", stated the White House in plain terms.
Originally posted by another user
"We reserve the right to use all necessary means - diplomatic, informational, military, and economic - as appropriate and consistent with applicable international law, in order to defend our nation, our allies, our partners and our interests." - The Pentagon
Originally posted by another user
The Wall Street Journal quoted a military official as saying: "If you shut down our power grid, maybe we will put a missile down one of your smokestacks."
Originally posted by another user
White House officials said consideration of a military response to a cyber-attack would constitute a "last resort", after other efforts to deter an attack had failed, the New York Times newspaper reported.
The Difficulties they face
The biggest difficulty for the US defense personal is tracking down these cyber attackers. The sophistication of the attackers has obviously become greater, as shown by the attack on Lockheed Martin. The US have estimated over 100 foreign intelligence have attempted to hack into American programs - and failed /facepalm - The US is not only accusing people, but being accused by other nations such as Iran in 2010.
The whole point of all of this is to try and stop cyber warfare, this plan isn't only for attacks against other nations, the "Spark that lit the Bonfire" was in fact the hacking of the Sony PlayStation 3, so my advise to the very talented hackers of NGU, don't go too far!
Let me know what you think about this new policy
*This Article was written in my own words, info came from the source and quotes were also taken from the source (I do not claim the quotes as mine)*
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