Countries Arming for Cyberwarfare

In a new report, McAfee says the global cyberarms race has moved from fiction to reality. The report found that politically motivated cyberattacks have increased and five countries - the United States, Russia, France, Israel and China - are now armed with cyberweapons. The Virtual Criminology Report includes insights from more than two dozen of the world's leading experts in international relations, including Dr. Jamie Saunders, counselor at the British Embassy in Washington D.C. and security experts with experience at the U.S. National Security Agency and the Australian Attorney-General's Department. Former White House advisor Paul Kurtz compiled the report on McAfee's behalf. The report for the first time provides a model to define cyberwar, identifies the countries involved in developing cyberoffenses and cyberdefenses, dissects examples of politically-motivated cyberattacks and reveals how the private sector will get caught in the crossfire. Government disclosure is also a major issue, as cyber initiatives and information are often classified by the government, hindering cybercrime defense in the public and private sector. Experts call for a clear definition and an open debate on cyberwarfare. Without an open discussion among the government, private sector and the public, future cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure could be devastating. This year's report identifies the following challenges: Cyberwarfare is a Reality; Cyberweapons Are Targeting Critical Infrastructure; Cyberwar is Undefined; and Private Sector is the Most at Risk.