Cyber weapons have been in the news lately. For instance, there are reports that an insider stole an NSA cyber weapon. And Politico ran a piece on a cyber "arms race" with Russia.
Cyber weapons have even made it into the discussion of the 2016 U.S. presidential candidates. The topic has become an important one and has sparked increased concern among government and military leaders.
Recent analysis suggests that the global market for cyber weapons will grow to be half a trillion dollars in the next five years. The level of discussion and concern over the proliferation of cyber weapons has reached new highs. Given the limited infrastructure that is necessary to build a cyber weapon and the robust appetite for this new class of weaponry on the black market, our leaders are seeking answers. In their quest for answers, they struggle to see how any regulation will control the growth of cyber weapons. In fact, some have referred to the cyber weapons environmentas the Wild West.
NOTE:
Many cybersecurity testing tools and network-capacity testing tools can be used as cyber weapons. These dual-use products add more complexity to this issue.
Some believe that, given the ease with which cyber weapons can be sold using cryptocurrencies and delivered via email, they are nearly impossible to regulate and control. Adding to that concern is the continued discussion about lethal cyber weapons. The growing debate about cyber weapons control will only intensify in the coming days, weeks, months and years.
