The Age Of Cyberwar (by Dave DeWalt)

War is not a term to be tossed around lightly. That is why the growing debate over cyberwar has caught our attention.

The annual McAfee Virtual Criminology Report has traditionally focused on the methods, targets and behavior of cybercriminals. And yet, as we put together the 2007 report, numerous experts pointed out that nation-states were not only spying on each other in cyberspace, but also developing increasingly sophisticated cyberattack techniques. Since that report was published, we have seen the concept of cyberwar debated more often in the face of mounting attacks and network penetrations that appear to be motivated by political objectives instead of financial gain, making it a stretch to characterize them as cybercrime. We decided to revisit the possibility of war in cyberspace in this year’s report.

Experts disagree about the use of the term “cyberwar,” and our goal at McAfee is not to create hype or stoke unwarranted fear. But our research has shown that while there may be debate over the definition of cyberwar, there is little disagreement that there are increasing numbers of cyberattacks that more closely resemble political conflict than crime. We have also seen evidence that nations around the world are ramping up their capabilities in cyber space, in what some have referred to as a cyber arms race.

If cyberspace becomes the next battleground, what are the implications for the global economy and vital citizen services that rely upon the information infrastructure? What should those of us outside the military do to prepare for the next wave of cyberattacks?

Finding answers to these questions was not easy because much of this discussion is only happening behind closed doors. We believe this veil of secrecy around cyber warfare needs to be lifted. There is little doubt that the impact of cyberwar will extend beyond military networks. As our dependence on Internet technology grows, so does the need for thoughtful discussion on political conflict in cyberspace.

This year’s Virtual Criminology Report highlights the complexities and potential consequences that arise when political conflict goes online. Our hope is that the report will help encourage and frame a global dialogue on protecting our digital resources from the scourge of cyberwar.

Tags: Cybercrime, Data Protection, Dave DeWalt, dewalt