Journal of International Studies

Information technologies and infrastructure―from satellites orbiting the earth to the smart phones in our hands, from undersea cables to wireless networks all around us, and from the global banking system to household appliances―play an increasingly indispensable role in daily life. At the same time, threats to cyber security are becoming both more numerous and more serious. Recognizing the threat President Obama provided a high-profile warning of the growing threat in the cyber domain in his February 12, 2013 State of the Union Address. [1]  He pointed out that “America must also face the rapidly growing threat from cyber-attacks” and “our enemies are also seeking the ability to sabotage our power grid, our financial institutions, and our air traffic control systems.” He revealed that he had signed a new executive order “that will strengthen our cyber defenses by increasing information sharing, and developing standards to protect our national security, our jobs, and ou...

The following is the keynote address delivered by the author to the Defcon Conference in Las Vegas on August 2, 2013. The annual event is a two-day conference attended by more than 8,000 computer experts/hackers.   Cyber is a major national security threat, growing in scope, with direct impact to the economic, domestic, and defense interests of the nation. From hacktivists with a politically or socially motivated agenda, to criminals, to state and non-state actors who view cyber intrusions and attacks as means of economic advancement through theft of intellectual property, or espionage, or - in the most extreme case - as a potential weapon of mass destruction (WMD), the cyber domain now shares some of the same issues I have addressed in my years of working WMD.  The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were established to address nuclear issues, with significant international membership that, interestingly and unfort...