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US Cyber Command Wants Greater Attack Mentality

Posted by Zonk on from the cyber-decker-hacker-commands dept.

superglaze writes "Lieutenant General Robert J Elder, Jr, a senior figure in US Air Force Cyber Command (AFCYBER), has told ZDNet UK that communication issues are hampering the division's co-ordination. 'IT people set up traditional IT networks with the idea of making them secure to operate and defend,' said Elder. 'The traditional security approach is to put up barriers, like firewalls — it's a defense thing — but everyone in an operations network is also part of the [attack] force. We're trying to move away from clandestine operations. We're looking for real physics — a bigger bang resulting in collateral damage.'"

6 of 257 comments (clear)

  1. Fantastic by OldFish · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think they should start out small by going after spammers all over the world. Just think of the positive publicity!

  2. Just what we need by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Could the US have any more of an "attack mentality" than it already does?

    1. Re:Just what we need by jayveekay · · Score: 5, Informative

      "In the past 10 years the US has initiated 2 military actions against foreign powers."

      Off the top of my head, I can think of 4:

      1998: US launches cruise missiles at Sudan and Afghanistan
      1999: US launches airstrikes against Yugoslavia to get it out of Kosovo
      2001: US provides air support to forces in Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban
      2003: US invades Iraq

  3. Hello Citizen by RichMan · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hello US Citizen,

    Your ISP has identified you as subscribing to a connection with >1Mbs upload speed. A recent top-secret national security bill requires all citizens with such bandwidth to become part of the national defense infrastructure. Attached to this email you will find an application. Install it. It will self register with homeland defense and be available for defense of the homeland should the need arise.

    Thank you for your cooperation.
    ZZ

    PS: you have 1 week to register or you will be added to the terrorism watch list and will be subject to extreme rendition if needed.
    PPS: we can't show you the bill, this is top-secret national defense stuff.
    PPPS: if you are thinking of decompiling or interfering with the operation of this software, see PS:
    PPPPS: yes this is MS windows Vista only software. Don't have Vista, see PS:

  4. Didn't know the Airforce was into this stuff by adrenalinekick · · Score: 5, Funny

    I put on my robe and wizard hat...

  5. Re:Great... by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 5, Funny

    For example, programs that are written in Java effectively cannot be hacked due to bugs.


    Java has so many bugs in it that it can't be hacked?