Google, China, and the coming threat from cyberspace

[Commentary] Targeted cyber attacks such as the recent ones against Google will grow in frequency as cyberspace becomes more heavily contested. The question is what to do about them.

Solutions won't be easy. Nor will they be solved by technical means alone. They will require widespread and comprehensive public policy changes, greater awareness of network security practices, and above all else a recognition by governments worldwide that an arms race in cyberspace serves no country's national strategic interest. For their part, companies should be encouraged to be more transparent and willing to share information about attacks on their infrastructure and less concerned about the liabilities of doing so. Google's actions are exemplary in this regard and may set a new standard of disclosure.