US Cyber Command Reveals Plans To Hit Back At Cyber Threats

CNet News.com is reporting that the Air Force's Cyber Command has just as much interest in offense as defense. "Air Force Cyber Command (AFCYBER), a US military unit set up in September 2007 to fight in cyberspace, is due to become fully operational in the autumn under the aegis of the US Eighth Air Force. Lieutenant general Robert J. Elder Jr., who commands the Eighth Air Force's Barksdale base, told ZDNet.co.uk at the Cyber Warfare Conference 2008 that Air Force is interested in developing its capabilities to attack enemy forces as well as defend critical national infrastructure. "

I can see the press release now.

[baudilus]

Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense.

"...and they tried to hit us with a DDoS, so we totally pwned those script kiddies. It wasn't hard, they were teh suk..."

Contact General Spielberg!

[Chonnawonga]

Oh, great. How much did Hollywood pay them to do this?

Announcement for terrible cyber-war movie in 5... 4... 3...

"Sergeant! I've been pinged!"

"Dammit, Johnson! Get out of there!"

Re:dupe first, ask questions later dept

[charlesj68]

No, an offensive measure would be more like destroying the person's computer, thus taking away his ability to attack you.

Well ... the Air Force should be quite good at doing that sort of thing.

I want you! for DDoS Army

[TurinPT]

Sweet, someday our home PC's will have to do mandatory military service for X years.
Join the national DDoS army now. Its your patriotic duty!

Re:dupe first, ask questions later dept

[Heembo]

An offensive measure would also mean sending a few burley Marines to the offenders office to beat the tar out of them. Now thats that I call "Intrusion Prevention"

Re:dupe first, ask questions later dept

[Opportunist]

Well, I guess that would qualify as a hardhack, no?

Re:dupe first, ask questions later dept

[Opportunist]

In the face of this development, the "Time to live" header field gets a whole new meaning...

Re:dupe first, ask questions later dept

[Heembo]

In the face of this development, the "Time to live" header field gets a whole new meaning...

Indeed. So does the "kill bit". :)

Air forces

[ozbird]

Air Force Cyber Command (AFCYBER), a US military unit set up in September 2007 to fight in cyberspace, is due to become fully operational in the autumn under the aegis of the US Eighth Air Force.

One air force should be enough for any country.

Re:Air forces

[dbcad7]

I'm just imagining the drills...
Tear down and reassemble the PC box.. timed of course.

Why did you put that PC together so quickly, Gump?
You told me to, Drill Sergeant

What kind of offense?

[ishiboo]

It sounds like a sweet job.

Step 1. All the computers owned by the government are turned into one giant botnet if they aren't already associated with one.
Step 2. Communicate. Rather than the usual chain of command, everything will be run out of an IRC channel on EFNET that has a key and is invite-only.
Step 3. DDos the middle east, Korea, etc.
Step 4. US Government starts selling shell cacounts for eggdrops.
Step 5. US Government gets into the warez business and opens up a porn site.

Ah, I miss growing up on IRC.