While the world watched in fascination and horror as Russia and Georgia fought over the region of South Ossetia this week, it is alleged that Russia was also waging its war on another, less carefully-watched front: the Internet. If true, this marks the first time that a nation has publicly added to its arsenal of war strategies the taking out of an enemy’s national computer infrastructure.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, at the same time that Russia was engaging Georgian forces on the ground, cyberattacks were being launched by Russia against Georgian computer systems, including official Georgian websites.
In a short statement entitled “Cyber Warfare Attacks by Russia Disable Georgian Websites; Government of Georgia Established Alternative Websites” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia stated that:
“A cyber warfare campaign by Russia is seriously disrupting many Georgian websites, including that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
Of course, war waged on the cyber front is the very thing of which U.S. cyber and political experts have been warning for some time. Both Obama and McCain have made protection against cyber war part of their campaign talking points (Obama would appoint a “Cyberterror Czar”, McCain would make sure that cyber security was enhanced).
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But is it really that big a deal? So what if the Georgian websites were taken offline for a while? That’s not really that big a deal, right?
While John Q. Public may not yet fully grok the reality of the magnitude of threat that a full-on cyber attack against the U.S. and U.S. interests may pose, it may be a problem of language, lingo, or even reading comprehension. Many people really don’t fully understand what “cyber attack” means.
So to put it in simple terms, imagine a U.S. where everything, everywhere, that depended on a computer system, ground to a screeching halt.
No, I mean really take a minute to think about it. All computer systems down, at the same time, for who knows how long.
Now think about this.
Can you think of a single thing that you do in everyday life – outside of perhaps sitting on your couch watching television or listening to music – that doesn’t depend on a functioning computer system?
What if that infrastructure was suddenly and completely incapacitated?
What would that mean for our telecommunications systems, such as our land lines and cellular networks?
What would that mean for our transportation systems, such as airlines and airports, trucking and shipping?
What would that mean for our financial systems, such as banks and credit unions?
What would that mean for our national security systems?
What would that mean about our ability to detect, prepare for, and repel a follow-up air / sea / ground strike against us?
What would that mean for you?
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You are right about most people not realizing the full extent of a cyber attack. Same with the economy–some think they will just cut back on web surfing if there is any sort of attack or shop at different grocery store if there is a recession. Another reason for getting off the grid, and supporting local farmers.