The US, under the orders of Barack Obama, has undertaken to prepare a list of targets against which, if necessary and "to advance national objectives around the world", they will carry out cyberattacks, the Guardian reveals.
Following the series of revelations about the NSA and the American surveillance agency's access to the data of major internet companies, such as Microsoft, Google and Yahoo, the Guardian brings to light a secret presidential order that sets the terms and conditions for unleashing cyberwar.
The 18-page Presidential Policy Directive 20, from October 2012, talks about “unique and unconventional capabilities to advance national objectives” and attacks on enemy cyber infrastructure “with little or no warning.”
These attacks will be conducted electronically, where this method offers a better balance of effectiveness and risk than other means.
However, it is noted that cyberattacks must be in accordance with American and international law and that, for those that are expected to have more serious consequences, they must have the approval of the president.
As the consequences will now potentially cause a range of problems from small-scale to extremely catastrophic, the agencies that will carry out the attacks are asked to consider possible consequences, such as retaliation, "the security and stability of the Internet", and even the establishment of "practices in international relations that will not be favorably received".
Furthermore, they should consider the potential loss of life, damage, or adverse effects on US foreign policy or the economy.
Attacks for exceptional reasons only and with presidential approval will also be carried out within the US, it is still planned.
At least one attack of the type described is known: the Stuxnet worm, which allegedly delayed Iran's nuclear program by causing problems with uranium centrifuges. The project - possibly with Israeli help - was initiated by the Bush administration and continued and expanded by the Obama administration.
But a source with good knowledge of the NSA's practices told the Guardian that these cyberattacks are now the norm: "We hack everywhere and everyone. We are in almost every country in the world.".
Given the confrontation with China over cyberespionage efforts against the US (against state agencies and companies), the presidential order, notes the Guardian, intensifies fears of the militarization of the internet.
The issue will even be raised at the meeting that Obama will have with his counterpart Li Jinping in California on Friday.
