[ISN] Cyberwarfare Emerges From Shadows for Public Discussion by U.S. Officials

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/27/us/us-officials-opening-up-on-cyberwarfare.html

By SCOTT SHANE
The New York Times
September 26, 2012

WASHINGTON -- For years, even as the United States carried out 
sophisticated cyberattacks on Iran’s nuclear program and the Pentagon 
created a Cyber Command, officials have been hesitant to discuss 
American offensive cyberwarfare programs openly. Since June, in fact, 
F.B.I. agents have been investigating leaks to The New York Times about 
the computer attacks on Tehran.

But the reticence is giving way. The chorus of official voices speaking 
publicly about American cyberattack strategy and capabilities is 
steadily growing, and some experts say greater openness will allow the 
United States to stake out legal and ethical rules in the uncharted 
territory of computer combat. Others fear that talking too boldly about 
American plans could fuel a global computer arms race.

Next month the Pentagon’s research arm will host contractors who want to 
propose “revolutionary technologies for understanding, planning and 
managing cyberwarfare.” It is an ambitious program that the Defense 
Advanced Research Projects Agency, or Darpa, calls Plan X, and the 
public description talks about “understanding the cyber battlespace,” 
quantifying “battle damage” and working in Darpa’s “cyberwar 
laboratory.”

James A. Lewis, who studies cybersecurity at the Center for Strategic 
and International Studies in Washington, says he sees the Plan X public 
announcement as “a turning point” in a long debate over secrecy about 
cyberwarfare. He said it was timely, given that public documents suggest 
that at least 12 of the world’s 15 largest militaries are building 
cyberwarfare programs.

[...]


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