U.S. policy toward cyber attacks needs new focus, experts say

US policies toward defending against cyber warfare need to take a different approach than the government has against other forms of attack, three cybersecurity experts said Thursday. It will be difficult for the US government to voice and follow through with a policy of cyber deterrence, like it has with nuclear attacks, said Martin Libicki, a senior management scientist specializing in cybersecurity at Rand, a nonprofit think tank. First, it's difficult to identify attackers, especially when some nations appear to be sponsoring private attackers, he said during a meeting of the Congressional Cyber Caucus. But it may also be difficult for the U.S. to follow through with threats of counter attacks, when U.S. cyber experts don't know how much damage the attacks could do, he added. With cyber attacks, some countries may be willing to gamble on the U.S. capability, unlike with nuclear attacks, he said.