Cybersecurity

DISA: ‘The gloves are off’ in the cyber fight

The days of hacking as a “gentlemanly sport” are over, according to the director of the Defense Information Systems Agency, who told a crowd of defense experts that cyber adversaries are dropping stealth tactics in favor of brute force.

“In cyber, it used to be almost like an intel[ligence] game — a gentlemanly sport, if you will,” said Army Lt. Gen. Alan R. Lynn. “People would try to break into your network, real easy, real slow, real quiet; then they’d sit still and watch. Then they’d move a little, maybe take some information, and leave.”

Lynn, who is also commander of the Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Networks, made the comments at the AFCEA Defensive Cyber Operations Symposium on Wednesday. They were reported by the agency.