"Don't call us"
Subtitle: governments, cyber security, and implications for the private sector
By: Tom Quiggin
Contributors: Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.). Centre for International and Defence Policy
Series: Occasional paper series / Centre for International and Defence Policy, Queen's University -- 66; Occasional paper series (Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.). Centre for International and Defence Policy) -- 66
Publisher: Centre for International and Defence Policy, Queen's University
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Kingston, ON
Language: eng
Number of pages: 20
ISBN-13: 9781553393566
Subjects: Cyberspace; Security measures; Government policy; Computer security; Computer networks; National security; Cyberterrorism; Prevention; Financial institutions; Business enterprises; Cyberespace; Sécurité; Mesures; Politique gouvernementale; Sécurité informatique; Réseaux d'ordinateurs; Sécurité nationale; Cyberterrorisme; Prévention; Institutions financières; Entreprises
Other titles: Do not call us
Description: Institutions that depend on computer systems must at present assume they have to depend on their own resources for defence against cyber attacks. As Jason Healey, the former White House Director of Cyber Infrastructure Protection, has admitted, if the United States is engaged in a cyberwar, Americans would be far better served by contacting Microsoft or AT&T rather than the Department of Homeland Security. This high-risk problem is unlikely to be mitigated by government agencies in the short to medium term. A variety of systemic cyber protection weaknesses and increasingly aggressive attackers suggests that the intensity of cyber attacks will continue to increase over the short to medium term. Most Western governments--Sweden and Finland appear to be exceptions-- are incapable of deterring or preventing trans-border cyber attacks and do not have the means to effectively retaliate or escalate after an attack or exploitation. Thus without a significant deterrent ability, it is likely that cross-border cyber attacks and exploitation will continue unabated.
Notes: "April, 2012".

Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: The problems; title: The critical issues; title: The outlook.