U.S. to create the independent U.S. Cyber Command, split off from NSA | Hacker News Reader

U.S. to create the independent U.S. Cyber Command, split off from NSA

pbs.org

6 pointsmolecule3 comments

"The goal, they said, is to give U.S. Cyber Command more autonomy, freeing it from any constraints that stem from working alongside the NSA, which is responsible for monitoring and collecting telephone, internet and other intelligence data from around the world — a responsibility that can sometimes clash with military operations against enemy forces.

"Making cyber an independent military command will put the fight in digital space on the same footing as more traditional realms of battle on land, in the air, at sea and in space."

So two organizations have contradictory mandates. The answer is to separate them completely so the conflicts can play out in the international arena rather than in a conference room?

The goal is to put the U.S. Cyber Command under military responsibility so that Trump and his military can launch cyber attacks as well as "detect" attacks and blame whomever they wish. Although folks are usually down on the NSA they are a civilian organization and the primary source of cryptographic and other electronic analysis.

I think cyber attacks are going to be the next decades Drone Attacks. However it's pretty hard to cover up a town wiped out by drone attack it's much easier to cover up a town crippled by a cyber attack.

Unless we think the current administration has any scruples about such things?

I wouldn't say they're a Civilian organization, the NSA directly falls under the department of defense. I would say their mandate and mission is more of a passive intel (clandestine) style operation vs more overt military action though. As for "cyber attacks", it's nothing new, it's only recently though, the past few years, that mainstream media is becoming more aware of these activities. The D.o.D. has been deploying warfighters with network exploitation skills early into the Operation Iraqi freedom, and only grown since then. There is definitely two sides of the digital battle field though. There's the sit and observe method (the NSA) and the smash and grab method (the Military components).

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