Scott Kemp writes about the dangers of a new arms race: cyberweaponry used for offense, not defense. Kemp, a centrifuge specialist at Princeton, points out that government agencies seeking to use cyberwarfare will most likely keep computer operating weaknesses secret from their own population, leaving everyone vulnerable. This is a very thoughtful read. Full Story »
Posted by J Sinclaire
Stuxnet both failed to operate according to plan and failed to have a long-term benefit. —- However, each new cyberattack becomes a template for other nations — or sub-national actors - looking for ideas. Stuxnet revealed numerous clever solutions that are now part of a standard playbook. A Stuxnet-like attack can now be replicated by merely competent programmers, instead of requiring innovative hacker elites. -— Every vulnerability kept secret for the purpose of enabling a future cyberattack is also a decision to let that vulnerability remain open in one’s own national infrastructure, allowing it to be exploited by an enemy state or even a terrorist hacker.
Thought provoking article asking whether cyber-offense or cyber-defense is the wiser choice for a developed nation to pursue.