Cybersecurity

Containing Our Intelligence War with Russia

During the Cold War, unconventional warfare between Soviet and U.S. intelligence took place largely in secret. Each side pursued the war of ideas vigorously, sometimes using disinformation or “black propaganda” to deceive target audiences. Each sought geopolitical advantage in the proxy wars waged in the world’s key regions. Each gathered information that could compromise the other’s military planning and capabilities. Dirty tricks were common, but both Washington and Moscow understood that this grim competition had to remain within reasonable boundaries. Killing the other side’s personnel was unacceptable, for example, in part because such no-holds-barred tactics risked spiraling into broader warfare.

Despite the end of the ideological conflict that fueled so much of the Cold War, this intelligence warfare has intensified. Dashed expectations on both sides for a new partnership have reignited the old rivalry, and new technologies that make espionage and influence operations easier than ever have added gasoline to the flames. Because of the inherent vulnerabilities of computer networks to human error, cyber offense has enormous advantages over cyber defense, which simultaneously incentivizes digital intrusions and reinforces fears on each side that it is vulnerable to attack.