Committee on Armed Services House of Rep

Cyber Warfare in the 21st Century Committee on Armed Services House of Rep

Hackers reported as working on behalf of the Russian Government have attacked a wide variety of American citizens and institutions. They include political organizations of both parties, the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee, as well as prominent Democrat and Republican leaders, as well as civil society groups like various American universities and academic research programs. These attacks started years back, but it continued after the 2016 election. They have been reported as hitting government sites, like the Pentagon's email system, as well as private networks, like U. S. banks. They have also been reported as targeting a wide variety of American allies ranging from government, military, and civilian targets, and states that range from Norway to the United Kingdom, as well as now trying to influence upcoming elections in Germany, France, and the Netherlands. In cyberspace, the malevolent actors presently engaged in attacks on U. S. persons and institutions range from criminals who are stealing personal information or holding ransom valuable corporate data to governments, like China, which have been accused of large-scale intellectual property theft, as well as breaking into government databases like the OPM [Office of Personnel Management] in the cyber version of traditional espionage. What can be done to defend America in this challenging realm? As long as we use the internet, adversaries like Putin's Russia and many others will seek to exploit this technology and our dependence on it in realms that range from politics to business to warfare itself. In response, the United States can build a new set of approaches to deliver true cybersecurity, aiming to better protect ourselves while reshaping adversary attitudes and options, or we can continue to be a victim.