Book Review: Cyber War – The Next Threat to National Security and What to Do About It by Richard A. Clarke
Two of the most talked about topics are probably China and cyber warfare. When it comes to these two issues, it seems that some kind of strong connection between the two is developing with China’s rapid development and progress in all areas. Richard Clarke, who served as a counterterrorist for Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, turned his attention to a potential new security catastrophe that is terrorism via computers.
In his book on cyber warfare, he offers insight into the subject and will likely change the way people think about China. Regardless, it is very difficult to understand all aspects of cyberwarfare without studying its political angle. Clarke highlights the three most terrifying concepts in her book. They are as follows:
The United States pioneered cyber warfare:
Cyber warfare technology is not new. It was used by the United States in its war against the Soviet Union in the 1980s. In collaboration with the Canadian government, they inserted a logic bomb into their software that sabotaged the operations of the Russian pipeline. It resulted in the largest non-nuclear explosion in history. During the Gulf War, China paid close attention to the US war marked by high and advanced technology. They changed their own military strategy and began to invest more in the computer battlefield.
Economic warfare:
Billions of dollars are spent to fund research. But with advanced technology and a few clicks of the mouse, China can steal them and bring the results to market. Most of the corporate world in the United States remains unprotected and unprotected against these threats.
When technology is at a disadvantage:
Economic disadvantages can often be turned into military advantages, as in the case of North Korea and other nations that have minimal computing infrastructure. After the Gulf War, China came up with a book that describes how those countries can have an advantage in the case of cyber warfare. So in the example of North Korea, it shows how it could have the upper hand because it doesn’t have a computing infrastructure that can be shut down.
Cyber War has started the debate on the “new threat to national security”. This easy-to-understand book will appeal to all readers, but political and technology junkies as well as futurologists and warchiefs will receive an exhilarating solution.