A Look At The NSA's Team Of Hackers And Spies Targeting America's Enemies Abroad.

(ABC News)

Inside The NSA's Ultra-Secret China Hacking Group -- Matthew M. Aid, Foreign Policy

Deep within the National Security Agency, an elite, rarely discussed team of hackers and spies is targeting America's enemies abroad.

This weekend, U.S. President Barack Obama sat down for a series of meetings with China's newly appointed leader, Xi Jinping. We know that the two leaders spoke at length about the topic du jour -- cyber-espionage -- a subject that has long frustrated officials in Washington and is now front and center with the revelations of sweeping U.S. data mining. The media has focused at length on China's aggressive attempts to electronically steal U.S. military and commercial secrets, but Xi pushed back at the "shirt-sleeves" summit, noting that China, too, was the recipient of cyber-espionage. But what Obama probably neglected to mention is that he has his own hacker army, and it has burrowed its way deep, deep into China's networks.

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Update #1: The NSA Has A Secret Group Called 'TAO' That's Been Hacking China For 15 Years -- Business Insider
Update #2: Secret NSA hackers from TAO Office have been pwning China for nearly 15 years -- Computer World

My Comment: I like to quote Buddha in situations like this one .... if you point a finger at someone, you are actually pointing three at your self. The U.S. has pointed a finger at China over cyber hacking and cyber warfare ....  but as we have learned in the past week with Edward Snowden's NSA revelations .... the U.S. was actually pointing three fingers at themselves.

The Terrifying Nature Of The New Cyber-Warfare

Silent War -- Michael Joseph Gross, Vanity Fair

On the hidden battlefields of history’s first known cyber-war, the casualties are piling up. In the U.S., many banks have been hit, and the telecommunications industry seriously damaged, likely in retaliation for several major attacks on Iran. Washington and Tehran are ramping up their cyber-arsenals, built on a black-market digital arms bazaar, enmeshing such high-tech giants as Microsoft, Google, and Apple. With the help of highly placed government and private-sector sources, Michael Joseph Gross describes the outbreak of the conflict, its escalation, and its startling paradox: that America’s bid to stop nuclear proliferation may have unleashed a greater threat.

I. Battlespace

Their eyeballs felt it first. A wall of 104-degree air hit the cyber-security analysts as they descended from the jets that had fetched them, on a few hours’ notice, from Europe and the United States. They were in Dhahran, in eastern Saudi Arabia, a small, isolated city that is the headquarters of the world’s largest oil company, Saudi aramco. The group included representatives of Oracle, IBM, CrowdStrike, Red Hat, McAfee, Microsoft, and several smaller private firms—a SWAT dream team for the virtual realm. They came to investigate a computer-network attack that had occurred on August 15, 2012, on the eve of a Muslim holy day called Lailat al Qadr, “the Night of Power.” Technically the attack was crude, but its geopolitical implications would soon become alarming.

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My Comment: My must read article for today.

The U.S. Prepares For Cyber Warfare

U.S. Army

With Troops And Techies, U.S. Prepares For Cyber Warfare -- Reuters

(Reuters) - On the site of a former military golf course where President Dwight Eisenhower once played, the future of U.S. warfare is rising in the shape of the new $358 million headquarters for the military's Cyber Command.

The command, based at Fort Meade, Maryland, about 25 miles north of Washington, is rushing to add between 3,000 and 4,000 new cyber warriors under its wing by late 2015, more than quadrupling its size.

Most of Cyber Command's new troops will focus on defense, detecting and stopping computer penetrations of military and other critical networks by America's adversaries like China, Iran or North Korea.

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Update #1: Protecting The Cyber Front Lines -- Michael Harper, RedOrbit.com
Update #2: Breakfast with the cyberchief: He wants some RoE, and also pre-approved actions -- Thomas E. Ricks, Best Defense

My Comment: It appears that the U.S. now wants to go on thecyber offensive .... they just want to know what are the limits and rules of engagement.

How To Stop China From Waging Cyber War Against Us

Cyber Theft: A Hard War To Wage -- Geoff Dyer, Financial Times

US has accused China of stealing corporate secrets.

Washington is angry. Really angry. It is just not sure what to do about it. US officials have accused Chinese hackers of stealing corporate trade secrets since the mid-2000s but during the past few months the outrage has reached a political tipping point. cyber security has been thrust to the top of the agenda in US-China relations.

The Obama administration, members of Congress and the think-tanks that advise them have cast around for ways to punish hackers from China and elsewhere. Washington is considering a series of unilateral trade and other sanctions against Chinese entities and individuals.

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My Comment: Trade and other sanctions are long overdue .... and barring Chinese products and companies that violate U.S. copyright and patent laws is a good way to start.

Chinese Hackers Steal The Plans For Australia's Newest HQ

Australian Spy HQ Plans Stolen By Chinese Hackers: Report -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Chinese hackers have stolen the blueprints of a new multi-million-dollar Australian spy headquarters as part of a growing wave of cyber attacks against business and military targets in the close U.S. ally, a Australian news report said.

The hackers also stole confidential information from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which houses the overseas spy agency the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, Australia's ABC Television said late on Monday.

The ABC report, which did not name sources, said Chinese hackers had targeted Australia-based companies more aggressively than previously thought, including steel-manufacturer Bluescope Steel, and military and civilian communications manufacturer Codan Ltd.

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More News On Chinese Hackers Stealing The Plans For Australia's Newest HQ

PM says Chinese hacking claims inaccurate -- Herald Sun
Australian prime minister says reports of Chinese hacking are 'inaccurate' -- CNN
Australian PM refutes claims of Chinese cyber hit -- China Daily
Carr refuses to confirm China hack claims -- ZDNet
Security chief chided for not examining TV hacking claims before facing MPs -- The Australian
Report: Plans for Australia spy HQ hacked by China -- AP
Hacking: Chinese spies steal ASIO blueprints -- Herald Sun
Chinese Hackers Steal Blueprints for New Australian Spy Headquarters: Report -- Voice of America
China steals plans for new Australia spy HQ -- Global Post/AFP
China 'hacked' new Australian spy HQ -- Deutsche Welle
Chinese hackers steal Australia's new spy hub plan: Report -- Zee News
Australian government under pressure to say whether Chinese hacked new spy agency building -- Washington Post/AP
China dismisses Australian spy HQ hacking claims -- The Guardian

NSA Chief Is In The Center Of A 'Cyber Storm'

An aide (L) takes notes as U.S. General Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command, speaks to reporters during the Reuters Cybersecurity Summit in Washington, May 14, 2013. REUTERS/Stelios Varias

Four-Star General In Eye Of U.S. Cyber Storm -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Depending on your point of view, U.S. General Keith Alexander is either an Army four-star trying to stave off a cyber Pearl Harbor attack, or an overreaching spy chief who wants to eavesdrop on the private emails of every American.

Alexander, 61, has headed the National Security Agency since 2005, making him the longest-serving chief in the history of an intelligence unit so secretive that it was dubbed "No Such Agency." Alexander also runs U.S. Cyber Command, which he helped to create in 2010 to oversee the country's offensive and defensive operations in cyberspace.

The dual role means Alexander has more knowledge about cyber threats than any other U.S. official, since the NSA already protects the most sensitive U.S. data, extracts intelligence from foreign networks and uses wiretaps to track suspected terrorists. But it also puts the general at the center of an intense debate over how much power the government should have to spy on private citizens in the name of protecting national security.

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My Comment: A comprehensive look at the NSA chief.

A Glimpse At NSA Hacking Capabilities

How The U.S. Government Hacks The World -- Bloomberg Businessweek

Obscured by trees and grassy berms, the campus of the National Security Agency sits 15 miles north of Washington’s traffic-clogged Beltway, its 6 million square feet of blast-resistant buildings punctuated by clusters of satellite dishes. Created in 1952 to intercept radio and other electronic transmissions—known as signals intelligence—the NSA now focuses much of its espionage resources on stealing what spies euphemistically call “electronic data at rest.” These are the secrets that lay inside the computer networks and hard drives of terrorists, rogue nations, and even nominally friendly governments. When President Obama receives his daily intelligence briefing, most of the information comes from government cyberspies, says Mike McConnell, director of national intelligence under President George W. Bush. “It’s at least 75 percent, and going up,” he says.

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My Comment: China/Iran/North Korea/Israel/Russia .... all of these countries probably have very good cyber warfare capabilities .... but I suspect that the real 800 lb gorilla in the room is the U.S..

Update: The best line in this Bloomberg report is the last one .... The bottom line: Using automated hacking tools, NSA cyberspies pilfer 2 petabytes of data every hour from computers worldwide.

US Caught Off Guard By Iran Hackers?

 

Hackers Appear To Probe U.S. Energy Infrastructure, Suspicions About Iran -- CNN 

The United States is investigating "a string of malicious" cyber incidents that appear to be focused on probing energy infrastructure, a U.S. official familiar with the latest intelligence tells CNN.

The official, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the information, said the suspected hacking did not appear to be intended to steal trade secrets or exploit technology for commercial reasons.

It appeared to be aimed at identifying weaknesses in fuel and electrical systems in the United States.

While the official did not identify any suspected origins of the apparent hacking, a U.S. lawmaker raised suspicions about Iran.

The United States has over the past year become more concerned about Iran and cyber security. American officials said last October that cyber attacks on U.S banks and oil companies in Saudi Arabia and Qatar in 2012 were believed to be carried out by surrogates supported by the Iranian government.

Iran denied any involvement.

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My Comment: These concerns are justified. In the past year state-owned Saudi Arabian Oil Co. and the Saudi security agencies have been cyber attacked and disrupted .... and all fingers have been pointing to Iran. Is Iran now setting it's "sights" on sensitive U.S. targets .... according to cyber experts the answer is yes.

China Resumes It's Cyberwar Against The U.S.

The headquarters of Unit 61398, center, in Shanghai. The unit of the People’s Liberation Army is believed to have resumed its attacks on American companies and government agencies. Carlos Barria/Reuters

Hackers From China Resume Attacks on U.S. Targets -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — Three months after hackers working for a cyberunit of China’s People’s Liberation Army went silent amid evidence that they had stolen data from scores of American companies and government agencies, they appear to have resumed their attacks using different techniques, according to computer industry security experts and American officials.

The Obama administration had bet that “naming and shaming” the groups, first in industry reports and then in the Pentagon’s own detailed survey of Chinese military capabilities, might prompt China’s new leadership to crack down on the military’s highly organized team of hackers — or at least urge them to become more subtle.

But Unit 61398, whose well-guarded 12-story white headquarters on the edges of Shanghai became the symbol of Chinese cyberpower, is back in business, according to American officials and security companies.

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More News On China Resuming It's Cyberwar Against The U.S.

US claims Chinese military is on new cyber offensive against America -- RT
Chinese Cyber Hackers Are Back in Business -- US News and World Report
Experts, officials: China has resumed hacking U.S. companies, agencies -- UPI
Chinese hackers pick up where they left off with more US attacks -- Wired
China's 'state-sponsored hackers renew attacks on US' -- BBC
China Resumes Cyber Attacks on US, Firm Says -- Voice of America
China’s PLA Hackers Pick Up Where They Left Off -- Red Orbit
Chinese army hackers return from vacation, renew attacks on US -- Ars Technica
Chinese hackers resume attacks on U.S. targets -- PC World
After Hiatus, Chinese Hackers Take Aim at U.S. Targets -- Mashable

Chinese Hackers Gain Access To Goggle's Database With Massive Files On U.S. Intelligence Targets

A Chinese national flag waves in front of the former headquarters of Google China in Beijing June 2, 2011. Suspected Chinese hackers tried to steal the passwords of hundreds of Google email account holders, including those of senior U.S. government officials, Chinese activists and journalists, the Internet company said. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Chinese Hackers Who Breached Google Gained Access To Sensitive Data, U.S. Officials Say -- Washington Post

Chinese hackers who breached Google’s servers several years ago gained access to a sensitive database with years’ worth of information about U.S. surveillance targets, according to current and former government officials.

The breach appears to have been aimed at unearthing the identities of Chinese intelligence operatives in the United States who may have been under surveillance by American law enforcement agencies.

It’s unclear how much the hackers were able to discover. But former U.S. officials familiar with the breach said the Chinese stood to gain valuable intelligence. The database included information about court orders authorizing surveillance — orders that could have signaled active espionage investigations into Chinese agents who maintained e-mail accounts through Google’s Gmail service.

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More News On Chinese Hackers Gaining Access To Goggle's Database With Massive Files On U.S. Intelligence Targets

Hackers Who Breached Google in 2010 Accessed Company’s Surveillance Database -- Threat Level
Chinese hackers gained access to 'thousands' of surveillance orders, says Washington Post -- The Verge
Chinese Hackers Found U.S. Government Data on Google Servers -- Mashable

My Comment: More evidence on high close Google and the U.S. intelligence community work together.

Concerns Being Raised On U.S. Cyberwar Strategy

Competitors participate in the 13th National Security Agency cyber competition in this handout photo provided by the U.S. Navy at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland April 17, 2013. REUTERS/U.S. Navy Academy/Handout

Special Report: U.S. Cyberwar Strategy Stokes Fear Of Blowback -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Even as the U.S. government confronts rival powers over widespread Internet espionage, it has become the biggest buyer in a burgeoning gray market where hackers and security firms sell tools for breaking into computers.

The strategy is spurring concern in the technology industry and intelligence community that Washington is in effect encouraging hacking and failing to disclose to software companies and customers the vulnerabilities exploited by the purchased hacks.

That's because U.S. intelligence and military agencies aren't buying the tools primarily to fend off attacks. Rather, they are using the tools to infiltrate computer networks overseas, leaving behind spy programs and cyber-weapons that can disrupt data or damage systems.

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More News On Cyber Warfare

Cyberwar is breaking out all over -- MSN
U.S. warns industry of heightened risk of cyberattack -- Washington Post
America Gears Up For Cyber War Offensive -- Strategy Page
Anonymous threatens to take the U.S. ‘off the cyber map’ -- BGR
German Army gears up for cyber war -- Tech Eye
China Sees Cyberwar as Reducing U.S. Advantage in Future Conflict -- Arik Hesseldahl, AllThingsD
Pentagon Says China Military Behind Cyberattacks: Selling China the Rope to Hang Us -- Curtis Ellis, Huffington Post
China and Cyberwar -- New York Times editorial
Why Did Syria Shut Down the Internet? -- Nicholas Thompson, New Yorker
Syria's internet goes down: Could the same thing happen in the U.S.? -- Chris Gayomali, The Week
U.S. Air Force cadets win cyber war game with NSA hackers -- Reuters
Inside a Cyber War Room: The Fight Against Hacking -- CNBC
Cyber War – Just the Beginning of a New Military Era -- David Guilbert, International Business Times
How Do You Protect Undersea Internet Cables, Anyway? -- National Journal
Cyberwar: How Digital Threats Are Redefining National Security -- Tom Marshall, New York Times

Pentagon Accuses China Of Hacking Into Their Defense Networks

Targeted: The Pentagon, pictured, has accused the Chinese government and military of involvement in the numerous cyber-attacks launched against U.S networks for the first time in its annual report. Daily Mail

Pentagon accuses China of trying to hack US defence networks -- The Guardian

China dismisses as 'hype' Pentagon's claim that China is using cybersnooping to acquire technology for its military modernisation

China is using espionage to acquire technology to fuel its military modernisation, the Pentagon has said, for the first time accusing the Chinese of trying to break into US defence computer networks and prompting a firm denial from Beijing.

In its 83-page annual report to Congress on Chinese military developments, the Pentagon also cites progress in Beijing's efforts to develop advanced-technology stealth aircraft and build an aircraft carrier fleet to project its power further offshore.

The report says China's cybersnooping is a serious concern that points to an even greater threat because the "skills required for these intrusions are similar to those necessary to conduct computer network attacks".

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More News On The Pentagon Accusing China Of Hacking Into Their Defense Networks

Pentagon report for 1st time says China government, military responsible for US cyberattacks -- Washington post/AP
U.S. Directly Blames China’s Military for Cyberattacks -- New York Times
Pentagon: Chinese government, military behind cyberspying -- Washington Post
Pentagon Accuses China of Cyberspying on U.S. Government -- Bloomberg
Pentagon: China's Government Hacked U.S. Networks -- NPR
Pentagon: China Views Information Warfare as Key to Countering U.S. Pacific Forces -- NextGov
U.S accuses China of cyber-spying on government computers -- Daily Mail
China denies Pentagon cyber-attack claims -- The Telegraph
China rejects Pentagon charges of military espionage -- Reuters
China Rejects Pentagon's Accusations of Cyber Attacks -- Voice of America
Beijing says US defence report hypes China threat -- AFP

Are Jihadists And Hackers Working Together?

Tag Team: Jihadis, Hackers Join Forces To Launch Cyberattacks On United States -- Washington Times

Middle East- and North Africa-based criminal hackers are preparing cyberattacks this week against the websites of high-profile U.S. government agencies, banks and other companies, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The attacks, dubbed #OpUSA, for Operation USA, will begin Tuesday, the department said in a warning bulletin circulated to the private sector last week. The bulletin was first obtained and posted online by blogger and cybercrime expert Brian Krebs.

The attacks are called for in the name of Anonymous, the leaderless coalition of hackers whose trademark Guy Fawkes mask has become a global symbol for their anarchistic spirit.

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Update #1: Islamist Hackers to Lauch ‘Operation USA’ Cyber Attack on U.S. Gov. Agencies, Banks and Companies -- The Blaze
Update #2: Jihadymous -- Abe Greenwald, Commentary

My Comment: More evidence that the digital world is rapidly becoming a new form of warfare.

Is North Korea A Cyber Threat?

Photo from Asia Daily Wire

Pentagon Warns North Korea Could Become A Hacker Haven -- Danger Room

North Korea is barely connected to the global internet. But it’s trying to step up its hacker game by breaking into hostile networks, according to a new Pentagon report.

“North Korea probably has a military computer network operations (CNO) capability,” assesses the Pentagon’s latest public estimate (.PDF) of the military threat from North Korea.

So far, suspected North Korean cyber efforts are more like vandalism and espionage than warfare — as with most so-called “cyberattacks” not related to the U.S./Israeli Stuxnet worm. But the Pentagon believes Pyongyang is going to lean into network attacks in the future, largely out of necessity.

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Update: Pentagon: Pyongyang Likely to Seek Foreign Help With Cyberwarfare -- Nextgov

My Comment: It is hard to see a country like North Korea .... with a limited communications network and strict controls on all of it computers .... being a cyber threat. But according to the Pentagon .... they are working on it.

The NSA Has Been Planning Cyber Attacks Since The 1990s

When America Became a Cyberwarrior -- Jeffrey T. Richelson and Malcolm Byrne, Foreign Policy

A secret document shows the NSA has been planning attacks since the Clinton years.

At a time when Chinese malware is targeting America's computer infrastructure and U.S.-Israeli worms (e.g., Stuxnet) have reportedly attacked Iranian centrifuges, a recently declassified item from the National Security Agency (NSA) offers a little history on how at least one part of the U.S. government foresaw its role in the growing field of "Information Warfare."

This short item from a classified NSA publication reveals that as far back as 1997 the super-secret agency was tasked with finding ways not just to listen in on our enemies (the NSA's usual stock-in-trade), but actually to attack hostile computer networks. The document proclaimed that "the future of warfare is warfare in cyberspace," and it sketched out how tomorrow's "Information Warriors" would think, act, and fight on the new digital battlefield.

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My Comment: Someone was on the ball when they did this analysis for the NSA 20 years ago.

The Syrian Electronic Army

 

What Is The Syrian Electronic Army? -- Laura Smith-Spark and Dominique Van Heerden, CNN 

(CNN) -- The Syrian Electronic Army -- a group of pro-Syrian regime hackers that has aggressively targeted major news organizations and activists -- may operate in cyberspace, but its attacks can have real-life impact. 

The power of misinformation was amply demonstrated when the group hacked the Associated Press Twitter feed Tuesday. The fake AP message -- which read, "Breaking: Two Explosions in the White House and Barack Obama is injured," -- caused a brief flurry of panic and sent stocks plummeting. 

The tweet was quickly revealed as false, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average recovered from its 145-point dip, but it was nearly a day before the AP Twitter account was restored to life. 

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More News On The Syrian Electronic Army 

Who is the Syrian Electronic Army? -- BBC  

Who Is The Syrian Electronic Army? What We Know About The Group Responsible For Hacking AP's Twitter -- International Business Times  

'Proudly pro-Assad': the group behind Twitter hacks -- Sydney Morning Herald 

Twitter losing cat and mouse game with pro-Assad Syrian hackers who 'blew up the White House' -- The Independent  

Syrian hackers a potential threat -- The Australian 

Investigations expand in hacking of AP twitter feed -- New York Times  

Pro-Assad hackers infiltrate The Associated Press, cause chaos -- Al Arabiya 

The Syrian Electronic Army, a fake tweet and a fierce stock plunge. -- Michael Babad, The Globe and Mail

Top Chinese General: Cyberattacks Could Be "As Serious As A Nuclear Bomb"

U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, greets Lt. Gen. Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of staff of the Chinese army, and his staff upon his arrival in Beijing, April 20, 2013. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen

China: Cyberattacks Are Like Nuclear Bombs -- Wall Street Journal

BEIJING—Cyberattacks could be "as serious as a nuclear bomb," according to a top Chinese general, who rejected suggestions that the Chinese military is behind cyberspying aimed at Western companies.

General Fang Fenghui, chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army, made the comments after meeting with his U.S. counterpart Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Cybersecurity was one of a number of sensitive issues covered. The Obama administration is considering options to confront Beijing over the issue, including trade sanctions, diplomatic pressure and indictments of Chinese nationals in U.S. courts.

Asked at a news conference on Monday about allegations the PLA sponsors hacking attacks on Western companies to steal commercial secrets, Gen. Fang repeated China itself is a victim of cyberattacks.

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Update #1: China General With Dempsey Compares Cyber-Attack to Nuclear Bomb -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Update #2: In US-China talks on cyber conflict, a top Chinese general owns to dangers -- Christian Science Monitor

My Comment: I have always compared a major cyberattack that shuts down our digital economy to that of a neutron bomb. The buildings are standing .... nothing has been displaced .... but there are victims everywhere.

The Dawn Of Algorithmic Warfare

Cadet 1st Class Jordan Keefer, center, coordinates cadet efforts to defend their network during the National Security Agency's Cyber Defense Exercise April 17, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy).

Stuxnet And The Dawn Of Algorithmic Warfare -- Jason healey, Huffington Post

Though autonomous, destructive robots are a long-time, hackneyed science fiction plot, for some time, this new kind of warfare has been shifting from yesterday's movie to today's reality. But unforeseen by the imaginations of both headline and science fiction writers, it was not a missile-laden drone or humanoid Terminator that introduced this new kind of combat, but a piece of software. Stuxnet, part of the "Olympic Games" covert assault by the United States and Israel on Iranian nuclear capability, appears to be the first autonomous weapon with an algorithm, not a human hand, pulling the trigger. While the technology behind Stuxnet or other autonomous weapons is impressive, there has been little or no ethical debate on how (or indeed whether) such weapons should be used.

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My Comment: I guess this is the price that we must pay to enjoy the digital lifestyle that we have become accustomed to.

Is North Korea Planning Cyber Attacks Against South Korea And The U.S.?

North Korea Readies Missile Launch As Fears Of A Covert Cyberwar Grow -- The Guardian

As Pyongyang moves ballistic weapons to the coast, it may also be planning to disable computer networks in the US

South Korea is bracing for a protracted standoff with the North that could include at least one missile test-launch and a border skirmish.

On Friday, North Korea attempted to heighten fears of military conflict when it told embassies in its capital, Pyongyang, that it could not guarantee the safety of their staff in the event of war. In another sign that it is determined to increase the pressure, Pyongyang extended a ban preventing South Korean officials from entering the Kaesong industrial complex – which it operates jointly with the South – for a fourth day.

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Update #1: North Korean cyber attack on cards, says defector -- New Zealand Herald
Update #2: N.Korea 'Confident' in Cyber Warfare Capabilities -- Chosun Ilbo

My Comment: In response to these threats, the U.S. and South Korea have apparently drawn up plans to respond more forcefully than in the recent past .... but in a limited way intended to prevent an escalation to broader war. Not surprisingly .... no specific details on what those plans actually are.

Is North Korea Already At War With Us In Cyberspace?

Is North Korea Already At War With Us? -- Jess Collen, Forbes

Cyberattacks keep affecting a record number of companies internationally. Yet the 27 largest American companies that have reported cyberattacks also report that they have suffered no severe financial damages. The government disagrees. The U.S. Government reports the losses to be in the billions.

Experts also believe that North Korea is mounting attacks against the South, and that the Chinese government has been extraordinarily active in hacking and corporate espionage directed against the United States. The North Koreans are already blamed for attacks on the South in March. And now there is word today from the North that they are under attack.

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More News On The Cyber Attacks That Are Occurring Between North Korea And It's Adversaries

North Korea ready for cyberwar -- Daily Caller
Experts: NKorea training teams of 'cyber warriors' -- AP
Security experts warn about Iran and North Korea hackers -- PCWorld
'Threatening world peace while his people starve': Hackers take control of North Korea's official Twitter and Flickr accounts and brand Kim Jong Un a pig -- Daily Mail
North Korea Twitter Account Hacked Amid Rising Tensions On The Korean Peninsula -- Huffington Post/AP
North Korean Online Twitter, Flickr Accounts Hacked -- Voice of America
North Korean social media apparently hacked -- CNN