Cyber Arms Control, Gloating and Botnet Terminators posted by Rick Howard

Filed in: Cyber Arms Control

Before the holidays, I stumbled into a blog over at defensetech.org regarding the subject of Cyber Arms Control. The word "stumbled" is one of those euphemisms I use when I am surfing the net instead of doing real work.

From Bruce Schneier's blog, the Russians and the Americans have started discussions about how a treaty might be arranged that might "strengthen Internet security and limit military use of cyberspace". From what I have read, the Americans are not that interested in a formalized treaty, but in a break from the previous administration, the Obama administration is at least willing to listen.

It is not quite time to gloat yet because there are many years of negotiations ahead of us before this gets any closer to reality. But, this falls right into line with something I suggested in an SC Magazine essay back in August. This is the idea that nations could agree to take on individual security issues together. The particular issue I suggested in the SC Magazine essay was the Botnet issue. I suggested that nations might authorize an international team of Botnet Terminators to pursue and destroy Botnets wherever they may lead. If we could just get the Chinese, the Russians and the Americans to sign up for that program, other nations would surely follow. The result would be a game changer. Pernicious Cyber Security Cartels from around the world would have to refit and reconfigure their entire operations in order to avoid the Terminators.

As I said, it is not time to gloat yet. There are many reasons why nations will not want to participate in my Botnet Terminator program or other similar Cyber Arms Control Treaties. I am encouraged though that at least some leaders are talking about it. That puts us a lot closer to the possibility then we were back in August and way closer than I ever thought possible when I wrote the original essay.

I guess I need to stumble around more often. If I could just convince my boss then I would really have a reason to gloat.

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