Security News > 2022 > October > Will cyber saber-rattling drive us to destruction?

As cyberattacks have grown increasingly destructive, nations are entertaining the idea of responding to them with conventional military forces.

The seriousness of a cyberattack classified as an "Armed attack" against a NATO member cannot be overstated.

Are countries using increasingly combative language in hopes that it will act as a deterrent to those considering catastrophic cyberattacks? Is the multinational saber-rattling over cyberattacks merely a threat with no follow-through?

Suppose country "A" knows that country "B" will retaliate with force to a cyberattack, because they've promised to do so for many years.

Country A decides to launch a highly destructive cyber campaign against country B, but makes the attack appear to come from country "C". Country B has no formal processes requiring cyberattacks to be positively identified before reacting, and launches a military action against country C. Could this happen? There is nothing explicitly in place to prevent it.

Continually threatening military responses to serious cyberattacks inadvertently puts a country into a straitjacket, where they must respond with force to save face.

News URL

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2022/10/31/responding-to-cyberattacks/