Lawfare Archive: Ben Buchanan on 'The Hacker and the State'
Jun 10, 2023
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Ben Buchanan, cybersecurity and statecraft scholar, discusses his book 'The Hacker and the State' and topics such as name-and-shame indictments, motives behind state-sponsored cyber operations, home field advantage in cyberspace, the mystery of the Shadow Brokers, the effectiveness of indictments in deterring hacking, Russian interference in elections, exposure as a harm in geopolitical hacking, trends in geopolitical hacking, and the need for red lines to deter cyber attacks.
State-sponsored hacking operations have shifted from traditional espionage to more aggressive attacks such as disruptive attacks and election interference, representing an ongoing daily competition between nations in cyberspace.
The increasing use of hacking tools as a tool of statecraft has led to selective leaking and exposure of hacking tools as a means to weaken adversaries, emphasizing the significance of these leaks and their potential geopolitical consequences.
Deep dives
Cyber Attacks and Geopolitics
The podcast episode discusses the increasing importance of cyber attacks as a tool of statecraft in international geopolitics. The episode highlights the shift from traditional espionage to more aggressive hacking operations, such as disruptive attacks and election interference, carried out by nations like Russia, China, and Iran. The podcast emphasizes the ongoing daily competition between nations in cyberspace and the potential consequences of these actions. It also explores the challenges of deterrence and the asymmetry in disclosing hacking losses. Overall, the episode provides insights into the evolving landscape of cyber attacks and the geopolitical implications they have on nations.
The Real Threat in Cyberspace
The podcast challenges the perception of a catastrophic cyber event like a 'cyber 9-11' or 'cyber Pearl Harbor' as the greatest threat. Instead, it argues that the daily competition between nations, utilizing hacking for geopolitical advantage, represents the real threat in cyberspace. Examples, such as state-sponsored attacks on critical infrastructure, cyber espionage, and wealth theft, are highlighted to illustrate this ongoing cyber competition. The episode debunks the notion that exceptional surprise attacks are the primary concern and emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing the day-to-day cyber activities of nations.
Hacking Tools as a Tool of Statecraft
The podcast explores the increasing use of hacking tools as a tool of statecraft. It discusses instances where nations selectively leak and expose hacking tools of other countries as a way to weaken their adversaries. The episode highlights the significance of these leaks and the potential geopolitical consequences they bring. The discussion also touches on the difficulty of attribution, the impact of revealing hacking capabilities, and the challenge of assessing the balance of power in cyber operations. Overall, the episode sheds light on the evolving dynamics of cyber operations and the role of hacking tools in geopolitical strategies.
Election Interference and Geopolitics
The podcast examines the issue of election interference and its geopolitical implications. It points out that foreign adversaries, such as Russia, perceive election interference as an effective way to cause chaos and division in the United States. It highlights the asymmetry in reporting, where US losses and disclosures are more prominent in the media compared to adversaries. The episode raises concerns about the potential impact of election interference on public perception and trust in democratic processes. It also discusses the challenges of countering and deterring such interference. Ultimately, the episode presents a sobering assessment of the ongoing threat of election interference in the context of international geopolitics.
From February 26, 2020: Ben Buchanan is a professor at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a scholar on cybersecurity and statecraft. He has a new book out this week: “The Hacker and the State: Cyber Attacks and the New Normal of Geopolitics." Jack Goldsmith sat down with Buchanan to talk about Ben’s new book, about the so-called name-and-shame of Justice Department indictments, and about the various reasons why states engage in offensive cyber operations.