The Human Cost Of Cyberwar

Cyber-attacks and their consequences are on top of the agenda around the world. They have become part of most countries military strategy and operations tactics. Right now, it is accepted that cyber-attacks will cause substantial economic loss and physical damage. but recent cyber-attacks against electrical grids and the health-care sector have underscored the vulnerability of these country systems and services.

The use of cyber operations during armed conflicts is a reality. While only a few States so far have publicly acknowledged that they use them, cyber operations are a known feature of present-day military operations and the use of them is likely to increase in the future. 

To develop a realistic assessment of cyber capabilities and their potential humanitarian consequences in light of their technical characteristics, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) brought together scientific and cyber security experts from all over the world to share their knowledge about the technical possibilities, expected use, and potential effects of cyber operations. 

The three-day meeting drew on the expertise of participants working for global IT companies, cyber threat intelligence companies, computer emergency response teams, a national cyber security agency, participants with expertise in cyber security (including that of hospitals, electrical grids and other services), participants with expertise in the development and use of military cyber operations, lawyers and academics. 

States and militaries remain reluctant to disclose their cyber capabilities, including the details of cyber operations conducted in the context of armed conflicts, and little is known about the few acknowledged cases. 

Therefore, the experts discussed a number of the most sophisticated known cyber operations, regardless of whether they occurred in the context of an armed conflict or in peacetime. Examining the technical features of these attacks and the specific vulnerabilities of the respective targets provides a powerful evidence base for what is technically possible also during armed conflict. 

The meeting focused in particular on the risk that cyber operations might cause death, injury or physical damage, affect the delivery of essential services to the population, or affect the reliability of internet services. It looked at the specific characteristics of cyber tools, how cyber threats have evolved, and the cyber security landscape. 

Areas of concern 
Discussions helped to put the spotlight on four areas of particular concern in terms of the potential human cost of cyber operations:

1. the specific vulnerabilities of certain types of infrastructure
2. the risk of overreaction due to potential misunderstanding of the intended purpose of hostile cyber 
operations
3. the unique manner in which cyber tools may proliferate
4. the obstacles that the difficulty of attributing cyber-attacks creates for ensuring compliance with 
international law. 

Specific vulnerabilities of certain types of infrastructure: cyber-attacks that may affect the delivery of health care, industrial control systems, or the reliability or availability of core Internet services. 

Apart from causing substantial economic loss, cyber operations can harm infrastructure in at least two ways. 

First, they can affect the delivery of essential services to civilians, as has been shown with cyber-attacks against electrical grids and the health-care sector. 

Second, they can cause physical damage, as was the case with the Stuxnet attack against a nuclear enrichment facility in Iran in 2010, and an attack on a German steel mill in 2014. 

Way forward 
The use of cyber operations in armed conflict is likely to continue and might remain shrouded in secrecy. Analysing its consequences is a complex and long-term endeavour that requires multidisciplinary expertise and interaction with a wide variety of stakeholders. 

Building upon the conclusions reached at the expert meeting, the ICRC would like to pursue the dialogue with governments, experts and the IT sector. 

It looks forward to the feedback to this report to continue to follow the evolution of cyber operations, in particular during armed conflicts, and their potential human cost, explore avenues that could reduce them, and work towards a consensus on the interpretation of existing IHL rules, and potentially the development of complementary rules that afford effective protection to civilians. 

ICRC:   

You Might Also Read:

Cyber Attackers Will Soon Kill Somebody:

The Digital Transformation Of The Humanitarian Sector:

« Russia's National AI Strategy Takes Shape
The New Sophistication Of Nation-State Hacking »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Gartner insights into How to Select the Right ZTNA offering. Download this FREE report for a limited time only.

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

Cyber Security Supplier Directory

Cyber Security Supplier Directory

Our Supplier Directory lists 6,000+ specialist cyber security service providers in 128 countries worldwide. IS YOUR ORGANISATION LISTED?

ZenGRC

ZenGRC

ZenGRC - the first, easy-to-use, enterprise-grade information security solution for compliance and risk management - offers businesses efficient control tracking, testing, and enforcement.

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

Infinigate UK

Infinigate UK

Infinigate is a value-added distributor of IT security solutions to protect and defend IT networks, servers, devices, data, applications, as well as the cloud.

ISO Quality Services Ltd

ISO Quality Services Ltd

ISO Quality Services is an independent organisation that specialises in the implementation, certification and continued auditing of ISO and BS EN Management Standards including ISO 27001..

Firebrand

Firebrand

Firebrand is the leader in Accelerated Learning in the field of IT and project management.

Actiphy

Actiphy

Actiphy provides a tried and proven backup and disaster recovery software solution to ensure business continuity at all times.

Optimal IdM

Optimal IdM

Optimal IdM is a leading global provider of identity management solutions and services.

Stormshield

Stormshield

Stormshield is a European leader in digital infrastructure security. We offer smart, connected solutions in order to anticipate attacks and protect digital infrastructures.

Cyber Command

Cyber Command

Our Managed IT service allows clients to offload the management of day-to-day computer, server, and networking support to our team of professionals.

TechVets

TechVets

TechVets is a non-for-profit helping UK veterans and service leavers retrain into Cyber Security and Technology jobs.

e.Kraal Innovation Hub

e.Kraal Innovation Hub

e.Kraal is a Cybersecurity Innovation Hub whose mission is to secure the future of Cybersecurity in Kenya by accelerating innovation and creativity in the cyberspace ecosystem.

DAtAnchor

DAtAnchor

Anchor is simply a better way to protect and control sensitive data. Zero-trust, data-centric security. Simplified.

Ermetic

Ermetic

Ermetic’s identity-first cloud infrastructure security platform provides holistic, multi-cloud protection in an easy-to-deploy SaaS solution.

Trisul Network Analytics

Trisul Network Analytics

Trisul helps organizations deploy full spectrum deep network monitoring which can serve as a single source of truth for performance monitoring, security analytics, threat detection and compliance.

Delinea

Delinea

Delinea is a leading provider of cloud-ready privileged access management (PAM) solutions that empower cybersecurity for the modern, hybrid enterprise.

NXM Labs

NXM Labs

NXM is a leader in a leader in advanced cybersecurity software for connected devices.

ZainTech

ZainTech

Zaintech is a regional digital & ICT solutions provider offering comprehensive digital solutions and services to enterprise and government customers in the MENA region.

Trickest

Trickest

Trickest enables Enterprises, MSSPs, and Ethical Hackers to build automated offensive security workflows from prototype to production.