by Lilly Rothschild

Cyber security is an impending fear for politicians across America and particularly

in Washington. Aside from Donald Trump’s recent accusation that former President

Barack Obama was wiretapping Trump using a personal phone, cyber security has

become an intense and complex topic. Recent cutting edge technology only promises to

become more advanced in years to come. The capacity of technology is expanding and

even the author of the article, “How not to Freak Out About Cyber War”, Evan Osnos,

admits that the country is not remotely prepared for cyber warfare. Osnos claims that

we are in danger of cyber warfare because over-technology threats are not easily

recognizable.

Osnos addresses the issue common people face when discussing defense

mechanisms for cyber attack. Osnos claims that there is an ever-present temptation to

overreact due to the broad scope of impact of cyber security threats. He supports his

statement by saying that having an American power shut down is overstated. Although

Despite Osnos’ optimistic opinion, there are multiple incidents where foreign cyber

attacks have made their way into American politics all too easily. Similarly, it is important to remain suspicious of foreign powers’ capabilities when it comes to pulling classified information from American technology.

Government agencies and hundreds of analysts must engage in defense for

cyber war at any moment. Once an enemy has those capabilities, it is a matter of how to

avoid being attacked. Osnos includes a quote by Michael Sulmeyer, a senior Pentago

official who says, “… as our strategy only because the defense is not possible against

nuclear arms; there is no defending against a thousand incoming warheads. But here,

we have to make ourselves harder to hit.” It is best during this time of constant change

and new innovations that, like Mr. Sulmeyer and Osnos correctly suggest, the best way

to take action is to defend close to home. Undoubtedly, it makes sense that one of the

key ways in which we can defend against an overshadowing cyber war would be to

share risk information to protect one another.