Sudhakar Tiwari
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
New Delhi, India
Abstract
The new danger of cyber war between nation-states is one of the most significant challenges to international security. As digital infrastructures become more embedded in national security strategies, the threat of cyber attacks by states risks global stability to a level unprecedented before. These are typically clandestine and sophisticated cyber attacks directed against critical sectors such as finance, energy, defense, and healthcare, which can potentially destroy not only national security but global peace as well. Despite increasing awareness and enhancement in cybersecurity policies, the challenge of attributing cyber attacks to specific nation-states, coupled with the lack of a widely accepted cyber warfare paradigm, creates a significant gap in current international security policies.Our study delves into the international dimensions of state-to-state cyber warfare and touches upon the pressing necessity of comprehensive legal and policy responses. Our study recognizes the difficulty of definition and managing cyber warfare within the current geopolitical and legal environment. The study examines how current international norms, international treaties, and security architecture fail to respond to the dynamic nature of cyber threats. Further, the study identifies the significance of deterrence, international cooperation, and cyber diplomacy in combating threats and promoting international security. The study seeks to bridge the knowledge gap in the understanding of the intricate relationship between cyber attacks and global politics and suggest a model for enhancing cyber defense mechanisms and fostering state cooperation in countering the changing face of state-sponsored cyber attacks. The study will inform the formulation of stronger, more resilient, and effective strategies to address the threats of cyber warfare in the 21st century.
Keywords
Cyber warfare of nation-states, international security, cyber threats, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, attribution, legal frameworks, geopolitical risks, cyber diplomacy, international cooperation, cyber defense, state-sponsored attacks, global stability, policy measures, deterrence strategies.
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