U.S. Policy Recommendation for Responding to Cyber Attacks Against the United States

U.S. Response Strategy for Cyber Attacks The United States has traditionally looked to its military to defend against all foreign enemies. International telecommunications and computer networks and globalization have now overcome the military’s absolute ability to provide for that common defense. More than capable to respond to attacks in traditional war fighting domains of land, sea, air, and even space, the military will not be able to prevent all cyber attacks against U.S. interests. As a result, the U.S. should establish and announce the nature of its strategic responses to cyber attacks - including legal prosecution, diplomacy, or military action. Such a policy pronunciation will serve both as a deterrent to potential attackers and likely be established as a normative international standard. The outline for a response policy begins by addressing attacks based upon the prevailing security environment - peacetime or conflict. The U.S. should respond to peacetime attacks based on the target, reasonably expected damage, attack type, and source. Attacks likely to cause significant injuries and damage warrant a full spectrum of response options, while state-sponsored attacks would justify a forcible response when their type and target indicate destructive effects including widespread injury and damage.

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