Constant offensive cyberattacks approved by Pentagon

The Pentagon reportedly approved the use of offensive cyberattacks by the U.S. Cyber Command, and one expert said enterprises should be ready to handle the 'return fire.' In a move with no publicity and reportedly little input from the White House, the Pentagon has allegedly approved the U.S. Cyber Command to perform offensive cyberattacks. The Pentagon approved the use of daily and constant offensive cyberattacks in the spring of this year, according to the original report by The New York Times. The offensive cyberattacks would aim to take pre-emptive action against malicious actors before damage could be done to the U.S. The planned actions would fall "short of war," although experts have previously argued there may not be a consensus definition of what constitutes an act of cyberwar. In 2016, the Senate introduced a bill to have then-President Barack Obama clarify the definition of an act of cyberwar, but that bill never passed. According to The New York Times, the decision to approve offensive cyberattacks was not formally debated inside the White House, and it is unclear what concessions may have been made to address the potential risks, which include the possible need to invade an ally's network or how to handle escalation in counterattacks.