Digital Asymmetric Warfare: Is It Possible?

Asymmetric warfare - no - as warfare defines a particular set of constraints and objectives. People use "war" entirely too often as a slang term but in this growing space there is enough ignorance, we don't need to propagate it. Can particular actors or operations maintain asymmetric parity (e.g. Jester?) or overwhelming asymmetric dominance (e.g. STUXNET?) for a period of time - sure - complete with massive limitations and risks. Not just Legal.

The problem is that it's a false promise - it reinforces all the things you were trying to stop in the first place:

On one hand it gives leaders (who haven't written a single SLOC) the idea they can dominate the space and invest in weaponry without any understanding of the limited use, re-use blowback potential, or inherit inability to keep the secret sauce secret.

On the other hand you get the same leaders (who still haven't written a single SLOC) thinking about "air gaps" and Nation-State Intranets. Einstein N+1 or whatever. This causes two types of problems depending on the particular N-S's starting point: 1) It continued to reinforce the failed proposition that all major threats are N-S and as such you "need" Government level response. Wait for Government and you've already failed. 2) For emerging markets they'll get caught up in N-S Intranets and controls and hinder their economic development which then provides a lager window and base for the extremism that was trying to be flushed out in the first place.

Cutting that short (it can get quite long) there is something I still don't understand. If you're going with offensive capabilities and even if you are ignorant of the basics (as many decision makers are) - why aren't they playing for keeps? I've said it before, they need to do the "stupid they know" as soon as their little dalliance doesn't work out. For example, there is no reasonable definition in which the ~goal~ of preventing Nuclear Iran was helped by STUXNET. And delay came with other potentially harder costs. So the moment STUXNET unraveled and you've ALSO opened up the 'Pandora's Box'** then drop some kinetic reality on the situation. Remind people Cyber can and WILL end kinetically - it's up to them. Anyhow.. -Pk

** - Yeah yeah - all the big players were doing it. I'm taking about the specifics of N-S on N-S Infrastructure attacks and more specifically what happens when the ROEs aren't established for the lesser players (after all that's what most treaties ~really~ do, just set rules for the ones not big enough to break them).

Not just can be much more done in this field than what the Jester is doing, but a lot more IS being done. Hell you wouldn't believe half the stuff that crosses my desk (some of this shit is getting SERIOUSLY advanced!) but there's plenty to point to. Think Stuxnet and its assortment of offspring, Operation Orchard as alluded to by Richard Clark in his book, all the Cyber Intelligence work that various experts are doing (such as Jeff Bardin who was mentioned earlier) and of course all the brilliantly devious looting China is partaking in through massive IP theft through cyber "crime".

I put that last word in quotes because hey, if a country does it its either Taxation or an Act of War, but I digress. What just gets me every time is how very little the rest of the world seems to care about the absolutely massive thieving thats going on. Have you seen the pictures of China's new fighter jet? Its almost a complete clone of the F35. Kiss your massive research budget goodbye peeps! China's already got the specs (for free) and you can bet your ass they will know exactly what its limitations are. Thats just one instance and it was years ago. In the last few years they've systematically rooted through the entire Fortune 500 and every company of note in every interesting industry. If you can still call them a developing nation, thats about to end in a big hurry.

@Treadstone71LLC you know it is.

Interesting paper.  I especially liked the quote (paraphrasing), "a small team of A players can run circles round a giant team of B and C players".  I think that's the reason that SOF are so effective.  It's true enough in the engineering world as well.

@th3j35t3r https://t.co/k5YUvxno You're killing it.

@th3j35t3r You're famous.

@LauraWalkerKC @SOFREP Link is down... is this TJ's article? "Digital Asymmetric Warfare"

Apart from his good motivations, the Jester's actions are totally illegal. He knows that, of course, which is why he's so cautious with his identity. 

Wow wish I had this when my annalist paper on hacktivist for my intel class was do, took me forever to get different sources on some stuff. Actually found out about an ongoing effort to create a government coordinating system for civilian based operations. here is a niffty little article I had found on the subject for https://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2012/09/09/6568213.htm

//**start thread jack

--j3st3r got busted for phake hacks */

@BrandonTWebb isn't that the point?

@BrandonTWebb All 'digital' warfare is assymmetric in nature. The utilization of #cyberweps is force multiplier.

@BrandonTWebb Yes @th3j35t3r is proof...

@BrandonTWebb what do you think? I think it's possible And we should be doin it more

Interesting paper but I find it ironic that everyone calls him a "patriot hacker" while I see plenty of military and SOF bloggers citing the material he tried to suppress.  China and Russia both have hacker militias that they don't bother as long as they don't target domestic entities.  On the other hand I think it is safe to say that the Jester would be facing dozens of felony charges were he ever doxed.