Opinion debate: When is a cyberattack an act of war?

[mongers]

He warned of a "cyber Pearl Harbor," evoking one of the most tragic moments in American history, when Japanese bombers unleashed a devastating surprise attack on a U.S. naval base in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941, killing 2,402 Americans and wounding 1,282 more. President Franklin D. Roosevelt called it "a date which will live in infamy" as he asked Congress for a declaration of war.

I want to punch the author for writing this.

You should call him a name on twitter, that could prove devastating to his sense of well being.

[dps]

War is politics by other means.  If the motivation is political, as opposed to economic, or just being done for shits and giggles, then it's an act of war.

[Brazen]

A cyber attack is an act of war when it can be reliably identified as state sponsored and used against enemy state targets to disrupt everyday life, whether used against military, industry or infrastructure targets. Though perhaps act of terrorism would be a better definition.

Same as physical war - there are plenty of military conflicts out there, but they are euphemistically named uprisings, rebellions and coups etc. until the state declares and interest in sending in the military. Or until Western/UN/first world governments recognise it as such, if you want to be cynical.

We are in the process of producing an industry report on cyber warfare and every government and manufacturer would be happy for you to believe they only carry out cyber defence and it's just the bad guys who develop cyber weapons and carry out hacking

[CountDeMoney]

We are in the process of producing an industry report on cyber warfare and every government and manufacturer would be happy for you to believe they only carry out cyber defence and it's just the bad guys who develop cyber weapons and carry out hacking

As long as lawyers walk the earth. that's the way it's going to be.

[Razgovory]

When they cause something like a serious blackout or people actually die. That's when everyone will get up in arms.

You know, you are probably right.  One of these days, some hacker is going to do something that gets someone killed.  The back lash from that will be great.

[crazy canuck]

When it interferes with my life.

[Razgovory]

When it interferes with my life.

What, you never got a computer virus.

[crazy canuck]

When it interferes with my life.

What, you never got a computer virus.

I dont think so. But if I did it should be considered an act of war.

[derspiess]

A cyber attack is an act of war when it can be reliably identified as state sponsored and used against enemy state targets to disrupt everyday life, whether used against military, industry or infrastructure targets. Though perhaps act of terrorism would be a better definition.

This.

[crazy canuck]

A cyber attack is an act of war when it can be reliably identified as state sponsored and used against enemy state targets to disrupt everyday life, whether used against military, industry or infrastructure targets. Though perhaps act of terrorism would be a better definition.

This.

Dove

[Sheilbh]

I agree with DS and Brazen.  It looks a lot like espionage to me (rather than state-sponsored terrorism).  The attack that would cause a military response would probably be a catalyst/alibi and have to be really very significant.  Aside from that it's simply another tool available to every state for politics by other means.