Hacks And Cyber Attacks

45:56

June 01, 2011

The Pentagon says cyber attacks can be an act of war, in the wake of a big attack on Lockheed Martin and a host of hacks. What’s up with cyber security?

In this 2002 file photo, Norwich University senior Jason Glanowsky watches a computer attack on his fellow students at the Norwich University computer security training program in Northfield, Vt. (AP)

It’s “duck and cover” time online.

The Pentagon has concluded that cyber attacks can constitute an act of war. Shut down our power grid, says a U.S. military official, and we may put a missile down your smokestack.

The new strategic calculus comes in a flurry of new cyber attacks, great and small. Sony’s global PlayStation Network — hit and robbed. 77 million accounts exposed. Super high-tech weapons-maker Lockheed Martin, attacked and penetrated online. PBS hit. Fox hit. Probes and worms and spies all over.

This hour On Point: cyber-security, cyber-war.
- Tom Ashbrook
Guests:

Scott Borg, director and chief economist at the U.S. Cyber Consequences Unit.
Alan Paller, research director for the SANS Institute for Computer Security Training.

This program aired on June 1, 2011.