America tells private firms to “hack back”

“This is only the beginning of a new era of cyber-warfare,” warned Handala, an Iranian hacker group, after breaching Stryker, an American medical company, earlier this month. The attack, according to the group, wiped data on more than 200,000 servers and devices. Much of the firm’s operations were disrupted. Iran has a long track record of launching cyber-attacks on American interests in response to real-life skirmishes in the Middle East. Such operations offer a way to bring the war in the Gulf to America.

Into this environment comes America’s new cyber-strategy, published on March 6th. The document is short—seven crisp pages (including the front and back cover). And it is light on detail. But its pugilistic tone and emphasis on offence feel very much of the moment. The strategy marks a significant departure from how America has approached cyberspace, pivoting firmly from defence to a more aggressive posture.