US vows to fight cyber attacks

ACTING to counter Russia’s aggressive use of cyber attacks across Europe and around the world, the US is expected to announce that, if asked, it will use its formidable cyberwarfare capabilities on NATO’s behalf, according to a senior US official.

The announcement is expected in the coming days as US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis attends a meeting of NATO defence ministers this week.

Katie Wheelbarger, the principal deputy assistant defence secretary for international security affairs, said the US is committing to the use offensive and defensive cyber operations for NATO allies, but America will maintain control over its own personnel and capabilities.

The decision comes on the heels of the NATO summit in July, when members agreed to allow the alliance to use cyber capabilities that are provided voluntarily by allies to protect networks and respond to cyber attacks.

It reflects growing concerns by the US and its allies over Moscow’s use of cyber operations to influence elections in America and elsewhere.

“Russia is constantly pushing its cyber and information operations,” said Ms Wheelbarger, adding that this is a way for the US to show its continued commitment to NATO.

She told reporters travelling to NATO with Mr Mattis that the move is a signal to other nations that NATO is prepared to counter cyber attacks waged against the alliance or its members.

Much like America’s nuclear capabilities, the formal declaration of cyber support can help serve as a military deterrent to other nations and adversaries.

The US has, for some time, considered cyber as a warfighting domain, much like air, sea, space and ground operations.

In recent weeks the Pentagon

RUSSIA IS CONSTANTLY PUSHING ITS CYBER AND INFORMATION OPERATIONS KATIE WHEELBARGER

released a new cybersecurity strategy that maps out a more aggressive use of military cyber capabilities. And it specifically calls out Russia and China for their use of cyber attacks.

China, it said, has been “persistently” stealing data from the public and private sector to gain an economic advantage. And it said Russia has used cyber information operations to “influence our population and challenge our diplomatic processes”.

US officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of interfering in the 2016 elections, including through online social media.

“We will conduct cyberspace operations to collect intelligence and prepare military cyber capabilities to be used in the event of a crisis or conflict,” the new strategy states.