Cyber adversaries would face 'grave risk' attacking US: report

If directed by the president in response to hostile cyberattacks against the U.S. economy, government or military, the Defense Department is prepared to launch offensive cyber operations against specified foes that is says "would be taking a grave risk" in launching a crippling attack against the United States, reports Ellen Nakashima at The Washington Post.

That intent is set forth in a long-overdue report to Congress on key cyber warfare policy matters the Defense Department released Nov. 14. The report does not have specific rules of engagement for offensive cyber operations.

The statements are in step with pre-existing policy and documents, such as DOD’s previously released cyber strategy, but have never before been stated in such explicit language, Nakashima writes.