US Cyber Command Discloses Offensive Cyberwarfare Capabilities 136
MojoKid writes "Earlier this week, the newly minted head of the United States' Cyber Command team and NSA head General Keith Alexander told assembled lawmakers that the U.S. has created an offensive cyberwarfare division designed to do far more than protect U.S. assets from foreign attacks. This is a major change in policy from previous public statements — in the past, the U.S. has publicly focused on defensive actions and homegrown security improvements. General Alexander told the House Armed Services Committee, 'This is an offensive team that the Defense Department would use to defend the nation if it were attacked in cyberspace. Thirteen of the teams that we're creating are for that mission alone.' This is an interesting shift in U.S. doctrine and raises questions like: What's proportional response to China probing at utility companies? Who ought to be blamed for Red October? What's the equivalent of a warning shot in cyberspace? When we detect foreign governments probing at virtual borders, who handles the diplomatic fallout as opposed to the silent retribution?"
Han Solo fired first. (Score:4, Funny)
Stuxnet.
That's easy (Score:5, Funny)
>What's proportional response to China probing at utility companies?
Redirect all traffic coming from the Peoples Army to goatse.
>Who ought to be blamed for Red October?
Sean Connery. What kind of Russian has a Scottish accent. "I know this book. Your conclusions were all wrong. Halsey acted foolishly."
>What's the equivalent of a warning shot in cyberspace?
Redirecting the Great Firewall to Justin Bieber's Twitter feed. Or making a press release detailing our cyberwarfare capabilites.
>When we detect foreign governments probing at virtual borders, who handles the diplomatic fallout as opposed to the silent retribution?
If there is diplomatic fallout then it wasn't really "silent retribution" was it? Take turns making it alternately look like Anon or Isreal.