Overview

Cyber Warfare is the fifth domain (Land, Sea, Air, Space, Cyber). It is the only domain created by humans. It is invisible, fast, and constant.

Core Idea

The core idea is Disruption. You don’t need to bomb the power plant if you can hack the control system and make it blow itself up.

Formal Definition

The use of computer technology to disrupt the activities of a state or organization, especially the deliberate attacking of information systems for strategic or military purposes.

Intuition

  • The Glass House: Modern society lives in a glass house. Everything (banks, hospitals, power grids) is connected. That makes us vulnerable.
  • The Attribution Problem: In cyber war, it’s hard to know who shot you. Was it Russia? China? Or a fat guy in a basement?

Examples

  • Stuxnet: A US/Israeli worm that physically destroyed Iranian nuclear centrifuges. The first digital weapon to cause physical damage.
  • NotPetya: A Russian attack on Ukraine that spread globally and cost billions.

Common Misconceptions

  • Misconception: It’s just stealing credit cards.
    • Correction: That’s cybercrime. Cyber warfare is about destroying infrastructure or stealing state secrets.
  • Misconception: There is a “Cyber Pearl Harbor” coming.
    • Correction: Most cyber war is “Gray Zone” conflict—below the threshold of actual war.

Applications

  • Espionage: Stealing plans for the F-35.
  • Sabotage: Turning off the lights.

Criticism and Limitations

  • Escalation: We don’t know the rules yet. Does a cyber attack justify a nuclear response?

Further Reading

  • Sandworm by Andy Greenberg