Attribution, Delayed Attribution and Covert Cyber-Attack: Under what Conditions should the United States Publicly Acknowledge Responsibility for Cyber Operations?

Abstract

Self-attribution is a public declaration of responsibility for the conduct of an operation. It is distinguished from covert operations, where perpetrators provide no such acknowledgement and attempt to conceal their identities. Although self-attribution is always an option, this thesis examines legal and strategic reasons for a nation state to publically acknowledge its role in the conduct of a cyber-operation. The central result is that whereas neither international law nor national policy requires self-attribution, under certain strategic conditions it may be preferred.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2014
Accession Number
ADA607746

Entities

People

  • Wylie Mcdade

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Command And Control
  • Computer Networks
  • Congress
  • Cyber Threats
  • Cyber Warfare
  • Cyberattacks
  • Cybersecurity
  • Cyberspace
  • Cyberspace Operations
  • Department Of State
  • International Law
  • International Relations
  • Law
  • National Security
  • Network Protocols
  • Operating Systems
  • United States

Readers

  • Aerial Delivery - Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security

Technology Areas

  • Cyber
  • Cyber - Legality in Cyberspace