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How the Militarization of the Internet is Changing Warfare

puddingebola writes in with a link to a New York Times article about how the militarization of the internet is changing contemporary warfare. "The decision by the United States and Israel to develop and then deploy the Stuxnet computer worm against an Iranian nuclear facility late in George W. Bush's presidency marked a significant and dangerous turning point in the gradual militarization of the Internet. Washington has begun to cross the Rubicon. If it continues, contemporary warfare will change fundamentally as we move into hazardous and uncharted territory. It is one thing to write viruses and lock them away safely for future use should circumstances dictate it. It is quite another to deploy them in peacetime. Stuxnet has effectively fired the starting gun in a new arms race that is very likely to lead to the spread of similar and still more powerful offensive cyber-weaponry across the Internet. Unlike nuclear or chemical weapons, however, countries are developing cyber-weapons outside any regulatory framework."

8 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Peacetime? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wrong! The USA has been in a constant state of Emergency since 1950

    Y'know, once the world calms down to pre-1950 levels of crazy I'm sure the President will give up his emergency-granted powers...

    Just remember if we get to Threat-Level Puce to set your radio dial to your CONLRAD station, paint yourself white, remove your distributor cap and lie down away from windows or doors, surely this aggression will not stand...

  2. Re:Internet vs USB by Hrdina · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess that makes this the militarization of the Sneakernet.

  3. Re:Military Meet Internet... by Sparticus789 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ask Al Gore

    --
    sudo make me a sandwich
  4. Rubicon? by sbjornda · · Score: 5, Funny
    From the article:

    Washington has begun to cross the Rubicon.

    I thought Washington crossed the Delaware. When was he in Italy? Now I'm all confused.

    --
    .nosig

    1. Re:Rubicon? by gman003 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Not good with sarcasm?
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sarcasm

  5. Re:This needs to stop by dbIII · · Score: 4, Funny

    These are top-notch spies we're talking about here

    I thought there was supposed to be US involvement as well?

  6. Re:Internet vs USB by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sandalnet once it crosses the Iranian border.

  7. Step 1. Hack North Korea by DirkDaring · · Score: 3, Funny

    Step 2. Fire missiles.
    Step 3. ?
    Step 4. Profit!

    Oh wait, Step 1 should buy 'Buy stock in defense contractors'.