Cyberwar

What is cyberwar?

Cyberwarfare refers to the use of digitals attacks, it’s just like computer viruses and hacking by one country to disrupt the vital computer systems of another, with the purpose to creating damage, and destruction. In the future wars we will see hackers using computer code to attack enemy’s infrastructure, fighting alongside troops using conventional weapons like guns and missiles. A shadowy world that is still filled with spies, hackers, and secret digital weapon projects.

How does cyberwar look like?

Just like the normal war that can range from limited war to fully war. The impact of cyberwarfare is variative based on the target and critical damage. In many case computer system in not the final target, they will be targeted because of their role in managing world infrastructure like power grids. There are many scenario of cyberwarfare available. Maybe the attacker start from the bank when the bank account start from zero and then suddenly leaps up, showing a million in your account. And then stock prize goes crazy. The signalling stop working and you can’t drive anywhere. Even shutting down power stations.

Why are governments investing in cyberwar right now?

Government are aware that modern societies are so reliant on computer systems to run everything that hacker using with viruses or other tools to shut down that could be damaging the system as traditional military campaign using troops armed with guns and missiles. Cyberattack also can be launched from any distance, with little evidence. Such attacks like that would be extremely hard to trace back with any certainly to it’s perpetrators making retaliation harder. As a result governments and intelligence agency worry that digital attacks will give attackers a way by passing a country defence. However, they also see the opportunity that ability of cyberwarfare is bring a capabilities of a new way to exert influence on rival states without having to put soldiers at risk. The fear of being vulnerable to the cyberweapons of their rivals plus a desire to harness these tools to bolster their own standing in the world is leading many countries into a cyber arms race.

Which countries are preparing for cyberwar?

Almost all nation with a lot of money and the skills is investing in cyberwarfare and cyberdefence capabilities. According to US intelligence chiefs, more than 30 countries are developing offensive cyber attack capabilities, although most of these government hacking programmes are shrouded in secrecy. US intelligence briefings regularly list Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea as the major cyber threat actors to worry about. The US has long warned that Russia has a “highly advanced offensive cyber program” and has “conducted damaging and/or disruptive cyber attacks, including attacks on critical infrastructure networks”. The Pentagon has said that China is looking to narrow the gap with the US in terms of cyberwarfare capabilities, and has warned that China has attempted to probe US networks for data useful in any future crisis.

References

Committee on National Security Systems: National Information Assurance (IA) Glossary, CNSS Instruction No. 4009, 26 April 2010.

https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework/online-learning/five-functions, accessed July 5 2020