Cyber Operations and the Use of Force in International Law

Cyber-Attack Attributes

“…Although the word "cyber-attack" is used frequently, its meaning remains obscure (Hathaway et al, 2012, Roscini, 2014. In this article, the approach to clarify what is meant by cyber-attack is similar to the approach researchers followed to clarify what was meant by "security" in the late 1990s (e.g., Baldwin, 1997;Buzan, 1998;Huysmans, 1998).…”

“…(Hathaway et al, 2012;Owens et al, 2009, Roscini, 2014Waxman, 2011); computer-operated physical infrastructure (Roscini, 2014); and physical objects extrinsic to a computer, computer system, or network (Roscini, 2014).…”

“…The motivations for cyber-attacks include accessing unauthorized or secure information, spying, and stealing both data and money (Uma & Padmavathi, 2013); national security and political causes (Hathaway et al, 2012); and propaganda or deception (Roscini, 2014).…”

“…Cyber-attacks result in the alteration, deletion, corruption, deception, degradation, disablement, disruption, or destruction of assets (Owens, et al, 2009;Roscini, 2014;Uma & Padmavathi, 2013;Waxman, 2011) as well as denying access to assets (Roscini, 2014). Definitions of cyber-attacks identify logical, physical, and cognitive effects on assets.…”

Cyber-Attack Attributes

“…The six definitions identified suggest that the concept of cybersecurity has at least five attributes. (Hathaway et al, 2012;Owens et al, 2009, Roscini, 2014Waxman, 2011); computer-operated physical infrastructure (Roscini, 2014); and physical objects extrinsic to a computer, computer system, or network (Roscini, 2014).…”