Cyberwar: Myth or Reality?

Cyberwar is more than a show on VICELAND. While I enjoy the show, it’s not the definition of cyberwar, despite it’s name. Cyberwar can be defined as using digital attacks by a country or nation to disrupt the computer systems of another. It is important to remember intent here as well. Cyber-attacks committed by an individual without military or political motivations wouldn’t be considered an act of war. However, once these attacks committed by a country/nation have the intent to significantly damage, kill, or destroy another country then it is considered cyberwarfare.

Cyberwar can be committed by using cyber weapons against a nations computer system. cyber weapons can include phishing emails, viruses, malware, etc. Cyberwar is not just online hackers doing acts of crime but acts of war committed online.

There are plenty of grey areas in cyberwar. It’s safe to assume that an attack on a bank’s security system could be considered cyberwarfare in the same way the government considers gang members to be terrorists. However, it’s not cyberwarfare because of the intent. The intent of the hacker was to target the bank, not a nation’s infrastructure or anything of the sort for political gain. It’s a crime but not an act of war. The same tools used by hackers in regular hacking attacks can be used as a weapon of cyberwar.

Understanding Cyberwar: Facts and Figures

If you take a look into cyberwar’s history, you will find that it’s always been a theoretical idea until a certain point in time. People have predicted and have made assumptions about cyberwar occurring. The odds of a 100% cyberwar happening are very low. However, cyberwar is very real none the less.

From what I read, our current age of cyberwar began with Aurora. In 2009, China committed a series of cyberattacks that targeted large organizations. Some of which included Google and Adobe Systems. Another cyber-attack considered an act of cyber war is Stuxnet. in 2010 a worm-like virus targeted 5 different organizations. Stuxnet was the first malware to showcase its ability to damage both a digital platform but also a physical platform. Personally, I think Stuxnet’s ability to damage both digital and non-digital platform shows how much cyber weapons have advanced. Stuxnet was able to spread through USB drives. Once it was on a USB it could spread to any system the drive connected too, once spread it targeted specific models it was programmed to search for. It was designed to slow down the development of nuclear weapons in Iran.

Another cyber-warfare attack was done by Equation Group in 2014, they’re a bit different because their entire group is kind of considered an attack. Their capabilities are what makes them and their attacks dangerous. one of which includes being able to infect the firmware of hard drives. We still aren’t quite sure how they are able to do that, so their cyberwarfare attack is listed as Equation Group. Their attacks also effect both the digital and non-digital scheme of things.

The growth in cyberattacks alone since 2011 is large and cyberwar is only getting stronger and more dangerous. This is prevalent by just noticing the kinds of attacks that are happening as time progresses. Countries have committed acts of cyberwarfare in the past. However, some would say good cyberwarfare attacks are only noticed when it’s too late. This is because the manner cyberattacks in which are done is usually sneaky.

Cyberwarfare is a dangerous cybercrime because it deals with the nations, not just individuals. The vary same thing that separates a cyber-attack from an act of war is the very thing that motivates countries to prepare for cyberwar. MacAfee made a report listing several countries stating they were preparing for cyber war. These countries include the U.S., Israel, France, etc. Most countries are preparing by upgrading their offense and defense by curating elite teams of hackers and cybersecurity analysts. Hackers and analysts ensures the network is secured and that in the case of a cyberwarfare attacks their defense would be so good they barely need to do much. However, everyone knows that everything isn’t really100% secure. In the case that it isn’t, a countries’ offense must be up to par for a cyberwarfare attack.

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