This dilemma began in 1834 from France when 2 thieves stole financial market information by hacking the French Telegraph System. But the things got interesting when Rene Carmille became the first ethical hacker in 1940. He was a punch card computer expert and member of the Resistance in France during the Nazi occupation. He owned the machines that France’s Vichy government used to process information. But he misled France and supported Nazis. Nazis took bait from his machines and disrupted France’s system. After 22 years, Allan Scherr uplifts cyber game by creating a punch card that triggered the computer and printed all the passwords. Then word witnessed first computer virus in 1969, named as RABBITS Virus, which replicate itself and shut down the computer. From 1970 to 1995, first cybercriminal, Kevin Mitnick accessed some of the most secure networks in the world such as Nokia and Motorola. From 1834 to 2024, cyber-attacks have become more jeopardous day by day. This new domain of warfare rays is significant ethical concerns and challenges. As cyber warfare is evolving, new challenges are emerging. It is becoming very difficult to balance the need for national security with the potential consequences of cyber attacks on critical infrastructure.
Cyber warfare is allowing nations to disrupt and disable enemy capabilities without mobilizing their traditional forces. It is reducing risk of human casualties and physical destruction, but it can hurt adversaries more than casualties and physical destructions. It can be used for defensive purposes such as protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats. Defensive purposes can be full filled from Intrusion Detection System, Firewall, Incident Response, Encryption, and many others. Cyber warfare possesses defensive purposes but offensive too and it can have unintended consequences such as violating privacy, disrupting critical infrastructure, effecting economy and many more. To understand these consequences, we need to discuss some real-world examples. Ransomware which disables victim’s access to data until ransom is paid such as RYUK. Spyware which collects user activity data without their knowledge such as DarkHotel. Worms which spread through a network by replicating itself such as Stuxnet. Stuxnet has a very separate significance in the cyber world because it destroyed Iranian nuclear facilities, particularly Iran’s uranium plant. It was created by United States and Israel intelligence, they named it as Operation Olympic Games. Stuxnet’s legacy continues in the form of Duqu and Flame.
So, this highlights the potential of Cyber attack and its consequences for nations. It can steel data, disrupt information, harm financial systems and power grids etc. for example, the 2015 cyber attack on Ukraine’s power grid. Another ethical concern is that cyber warfare can sovereignty and privacy. For example, in 2019 cyber attack on Indian national Congress party. This attack violated the privacy of citizens and showed the potential for cyber warfare to compromise democratic institutions.
To address these ethical concerns, it is essential to develop laws and framework for the use of Cyber warfare. This law should be made by keeping the unique characteristics of cyber warfare in mind such as anonymity and the potential for unintended consequences. Firstly, the purpose of cyber warfare should be clearly identified. State should only engage in cyber warfare when there is issue of national security or defense against threat. They should be clear to everyone that cyber warfare is not a platform for the means of aggression or any political interest or disseminating religious or political propagandas. Secondly, this should be a mandatory rule that cyber attack cannot be used for harming to civilian by violating privacy or critical infrastructure. It requires practical strategies to address the unique characteristics of cyber warfare. Thirdly, every state know that this is a digital era where Technology and science are emerging with each passing day. So, every state should respect the sovereignty and privacy of other Nations. To reach this goal, it is necessary to refrain from cyber attacks that violets privacy and security of other Nation’s citizens.
Fourthly, Nations should collaborate and work on developing international norms and agreements relating to the use of cyber warfare. There should be clear guidelines for the development and use of Cyber weapons. It also requires transparency and accountability in the use of cyber warfare. Fifthly, they should be investments in cyber defence and resilience so that it can help to minimize the risk of Cyber attack and protect critical infrastructure. Development of robust cyber security measures and promotion of Cyber awareness and education is necessary for this cause. Lastly, it is very important to recognize the potential of cyber warfare. Cyber warfare contains more unintended consequences for vulnerable populations in the world. Therefore, Nations should take step to mitigate the impact of cyber warfare on these populations.