Growing threat: Cyber and nuclear weapons systems

[Tanuki]

https://thebulletin.org/growing-threat-cyber-and-nuclear-weapons-systems11201?platform=hootsuite

....."Unfortunately, these scenarios are all too plausible. Many experts believe it’s only a matter of time before truly devastating cyberattacks are mounted against critical civilian infrastructure—or even key military systems. Nuclear weapons and related systems, like all digital systems, are vulnerable to cyberattack. Though nations give the highest priority to the security of nuclear weapons systems, a successful cyberattack is possible and could be catastrophic. (Systems related to nuclear weapons include those involved in delivery, communication, planning, warning, and the like; nuclear weapons, along with these related systems, can be called “nuclear weapons systems” for short.)

Cyberattacks could compromise nuclear planning or delivery systems, interrupt critical communications, lead to false warnings of attack, or potentially even allow an adversary to take control of a nuclear weapon. Indeed, an increasing risk of cyberattacks could undermine confidence in nuclear deterrent forces—generating uncertainty about whether a nuclear-armed state could both assure the authorized use of its nuclear weapons and prevent their accidental, mistaken, or unauthorized use. (A “disabling” attack could prevent authorized use of a nuclear weapon; an “enabling” attack could lead to unauthorized nuclear use.) Such uncertainty could jeopardize strategic and crisis stability.
.. ......

Is this plausible? Although warning systems are well protected, two real-life incidents have served as wake-up calls regarding their technical fallibility: the 1980 failure of a NORAD computer chip, which resulted in a false warning about an incoming nuclear attack; and, in 1983, a Soviet computer’s misidentification of sunlight reflecting off clouds as five incoming missiles. These incidents weren’t deliberately caused, but it is conceivable that similar effects could be caused deliberately by a cyberattack.
... ...........

Scenario 3. Seeking to compromise an adversary’s nuclear deterrent, and exploiting vulnerabilities in the adversary’s supply chains, a nation-state places malware on a key nuclear weapon delivery platform. During an escalating crisis, it communicates that it has done so. In this situation, decision makers would have to consider whether and how to react as they tried to determine whether the problem was targeted or widespread and whether additional flaws might exist.
.......

First, nuclear weapons and related systems are complex, and they present attackers with many and varied targets. A weapon’s cybersecurity vulnerabilities don’t just involve the weapon itself; they also involve communication systems, delivery platforms, and even planning systems. Some key systems—for example, power grids—are not even owned by the government, yet they could directly affect key nuclear systems.
.......

Third, the increasing cyber threat to nuclear weapons systems necessitates a broad re-examination, in the United States and other countries with nuclear weapons, of these nations’ nuclear doctrines, policies, postures, structures, procedures, and technological bases. It should not be surprising that a re-examination is due—theories of nuclear deterrence and strategic stability, and consequently the role of nuclear weapons, were developed in an era when cyber threats did not exist. It is therefore time to ask whether and how cyber threats affect the continued viability of nuclear deterrence. How do cyber threats impact strategic stability? And will cyber threats require a change in assumptions regarding the role of nuclear weapons in international security?"

 

[DK504]

1. As great an idea as the "smart grid" is,

I still have problem with it considering how vulnerable our systems are. Our voting precincts can be hacked, our grids have already been and still nothing is done to strengthen these systems. We have the technology and the smarts to do it but it seems Congress is too busy taking healthcare and education away from Americans to do any thing about this.