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March 13, 2013

Intel Review: Cyber-Attacks More of a Threat to U.S. Than al-Qaeda 
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The nation's top intelligence officials are warning cyber-attacks from
abroad now pose a greater threat to national security than al-Qaeda and
other militant groups. For the first time ever, an annual review of
threats to the United States lists the risk of foreign computer attacks
on the networks of U.S. infrastructure and institutions higher than
terrorism, organized crime and weapons of mass destruction. Director of
National Intelligence James Clapper discussed the finding in testimony
before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

James Clapper: "When it comes to distinct threat areas, our statement
this year leads with cyber, and it's hard to overemphasize its
significance. Increasingly, state and non-state actors are gaining and
using cyber-expertise. They apply cybertechniques and capabilities to
achieve strategic objectives by gathering sensitive information from
public and private sector entities, controlling the content and flow of
information and challenging perceived adversaries in cyberspace. These
capabilities put all sectors of our country at risk."

In response, the Pentagon's new Cyber Command has unveiled plans to
create 13 offensive teams to counter computer attacks from overseas by
the fall of 2015. The teams would be used for cyber-operations against
foreign countries linked to computer attacks on the United States.

 

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