Pentagon to Consider Hacking, Act of War

[caseagainstfaith]

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon, trying to create a formal strategy to deter cyberattacks on the United States, plans to issue a new strategy soon declaring that a computer attack from a foreign nation can be considered an act of war that may result in a military
Several administration officials, in comments over the past two years, have suggested publicly that any American president could consider a variety of responses — economic sanctions, retaliatory cyberattacks or a military strike — if critical American computer systems were ever attacked.

The new military strategy, which emerged from several years of debate modeled on the 1950s effort in Washington to come up with a plan for deterring nuclear attacks, makes explicit that a cyberattack could be considered equivalent to a more traditional act of war. The Pentagon is declaring that any computer attack that threatens widespread civilian casualties — for example, by cutting off power supplies or bringing down hospitals and emergency-responder networks — could be treated as an act of aggression.

source - www.nytimes.com/2011/06/01/us/politics/01cyber.html

So if this happens, hackers can now be added factor in causing World War 3, how lovely.

[Napoleon the Clown]

Superfluous commas for the win!

[Art Vandelay]

I'm surprised this is only happening now. We've been pretty much dependent on all things digital and hackable since the '90s, I'm quite frankly a little worried that the Pentagon is only just starting to figure this out now.

[Dragon Zachski]

So, a script kiddie from, say, South Korea tries to hack us, and we wage war with his country?

Please tell me I'm misinterpreting this.

[Art Vandelay]

Jun 1, 2011 17:53:29 GMT -5 Dragon Zachski said:

So, a script kiddie from, say, South Korea tries to hack us, and we wage war with his country?

Please tell me I'm misinterpreting this.

No, for the same reason Virginia Tech wasn't considered an act of war. Like any action that can be considered an act of war, it only counts if a government, not a civilian, is behind it.

[Smurfette Principle]

I think is in response to how China is DDoSing Change.org (and probably other sites we don't know about). I'm waiting for the inevitable War Games 2.

[Mr. Nnamdi]

... This is going to make some killer action movies.

[styphon]

Jun 1, 2011 18:38:37 GMT -5 Smurfette Principle said:

I think is in response to how China is DDoSing Change.org (and probably other sites we don't know about). I'm waiting for the inevitable War Games 2.

It was made about 2 years ago WarGames: The Dead Code.

And for the record, I still want the WOPR's nuclear simulation as my screen saver.

[jackmann]

I don't see a problem with this. It only takes effect if A) it's a government behind it, and B) if it's an actual life-threatening attack (cutting off power at a hospital, for example).

[DeadpanDoubter]

What if a foreign country tries to hack CWC's PSN account?

I'll shut up. _{Really, just now getting to this?}

[Oriet]

I'm not surprised it's taken this long. I mean, the US is always like 20 years behind on tactics and military policy (you know, like sending divisions of tanks to fight against guerilla warriors intermingled with civilians), and that the older, conservative population, of which our politicians are mostly comprised, is hardly up to date with what computers can do and are used for, it's a wonder that they made sure to say the attacks have to threaten casualties and not just include anything that could be conceived as being a cyber attack.

Part of me is now wondering how long it'll be before they declare a "War on Hacking." (And you just know they'd use hacking to mean any kind of cyber attack or disruption.)

[Rat Of Steel]

Jun 1, 2011 18:38:37 GMT -5 Smurfette Principle said:

I think is in response to how China is DDoSing Change.org (and probably other sites we don't know about). I'm waiting for the inevitable War Games 2 3.

Fixed.

ADDENDUM: Damn, Styphon beat me to it.

[dasfuchs]

Jun 1, 2011 19:44:36 GMT -5 DeadpanDoubter said:

What if a foreign country tries to hack CWC's PSN account?

I'll shut up. _{Really, just now getting to this?}

CWCville goes to red 1 and Gordon the Pringles guy activates the Sonichu army

[Vene]

Jun 1, 2011 18:09:28 GMT -5 Art Vandelay said:

Jun 1, 2011 17:53:29 GMT -5 Dragon Zachski said:

So, a script kiddie from, say, South Korea tries to hack us, and we wage war with his country?

Please tell me I'm misinterpreting this.

No, for the same reason Virginia Tech wasn't considered an act of war. Like any action that can be considered an act of war, it only counts if a government, not a civilian, is behind it.

We'd just end up bombing Thailand.

[DeadpanDoubter]

Jun 1, 2011 21:48:15 GMT -5 dasfuchs said:

Jun 1, 2011 19:44:36 GMT -5 DeadpanDoubter said:

What if a foreign country tries to hack CWC's PSN account?

I'll shut up. _{Really, just now getting to this?}

CWCville goes to red 1 and Gordon the Pringles guy activates the Sonichu army

Gordon?! My god...the only way that could be any worse is if it had BEES.