The Pentagon has empowered the US Cyber Command to take a far more aggressive approach to defending the nation against cyber attacks, the New York Times reports. The shift in strategy could increase the risk of conflict with foreign states that sponsor malicious hacking groups. Until now, the Cyber Command has assumed a defensive posture, trying to counter attackers as they enter U.S. networks. In the few instances when it has gone on the offensive, particularly in trying to disrupt the online activities of the Islamic State and its recruiters, the results have been mixed. In the spring, as the Pentagon elevated the command’s status, it opened the door to nearly daily raids on foreign networks, seeking to disable cyber weapons before they can be unleashed.
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