Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

US Planning Response To a Cyber Attack

Posted by kdawson on from the one-less-cyber-cafe-in-Karachi dept.

We've all heard of Google bombing; the US Government may be taking the expression rather literally. Planning is now underway across the government for the proper way to respond to a cyber attack, and options on the table include launching a cyber counterattack or even bombing the attack's source. The article makes clear that no settled plan is in place, and quotes one spokesman as saying "the preferred route would be warning the source to shut down the attack before a military response." That's assuming the source could be found. From the article: "If the United States found itself under a major cyberattack aimed at undermining the nations critical information infrastructure, the Department of Defense is prepared, based on the authority of the president, to launch a cyber counterattack or an actual bombing of an attack source."

16 of 359 comments (clear)

  1. botnet by TheSHAD0W · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder what their response would be to the attack of a botnet. Carpet bombing, maybe?

    1. Re:botnet by Cyberax · · Score: 4, Funny

      Nuclear arms, of course :) The ultimate solution for spam and cyberattacks.

    2. Re: botnet by Black+Parrot · · Score: 5, Funny

      > I wonder what their response would be to the attack of a botnet.

      Good thing the story isn't on a DoD site, or Slashdot might get some retaliatory cruise missiles.

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
    3. Re:botnet by Hoi+Polloi · · Score: 4, Funny

      This is why I make sure all of my zombie systems are physically located in US government facilities.

      --
      It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
  2. An option... by yourexhalekiss · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's an option that the Feds have that the average whitehat doesn't: calling in airstrikes against the DOSer.

  3. Re:Bombs? That's ok... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    A few bombings ought to move people off Windows.

  4. Uhh... woudln't just be easier... by thestudio_bob · · Score: 5, Funny

    Uhh... woudln't just be easier to bomb the source. It's not like we don't know where Micro$ofts head quarters are.

    --
    The real Sig captains the Northwestern. This one captains /.
  5. Slashdotted:No more submissions to .gov/mil sites by NZheretic · · Score: 5, Funny
    To Commander "Taco"
    Please cease and desist linking to site xxx.mil ( reacted ) or whitehouse.gov or else we will bomb you.

    Signed G.W. Bush.

  6. Re:spoof by ghstomahawks · · Score: 5, Funny

    What about a certain ranch in Texas ....?

  7. Scene from the War Room by mbstone · · Score: 5, Funny

    General, the bombers are ready to go and the cruise missiles are fully fueled. And our intel group has pinpointed the source of the attack. It's coming from 127.0.0.1 .

  8. Re:denial of service by TubeSteak · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, this has some great potential for denial of service attacks by forging the source of a cyber attack.
    The practical joker in me can't wait until someone forges an attack using the WhiteHouse.gov IP.

    OTOH, I suspect that the NSA & DoD aren't that stupid
    --
    [Fuck Beta]
    o0t!
  9. Redefines... by DimGeo · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... Internet Exploder... Click that link and you and your entire fraking town are history.

  10. oh really - this is just hilarious by toby · · Score: 4, Funny

    When you're a country with a hammer, everything looks like a snowglobe, eh?

    --
    you had me at #!
  11. Re:Bombs? That's ok... by StikyPad · · Score: 4, Funny

    True, but if 100% of your products cause widespread damage, you get a seat at the UN Security Council.

    --
    https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
  12. Re:Bombs? That's ok... by tsm_sf · · Score: 5, Funny

    Your scenario is a little off, since your oven can't walk out of the house and burn someone else's house down. Let's try a more realistic scenario.

    You buy a new drive-by-wire car.

    You can tell right there it's going to be a good analogy.

    --
    Literalism isn't a form of humor, it's you being irritating.
  13. Re:Bombs? That's ok... by CmdrGravy · · Score: 4, Funny

    throttle by wire is common Indeed, I believe it's know as garrotting.