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11 Geo. J. Int'l Aff. 118 (2010-2011)
The Stuxnet Enigma: Implications for the Future of Cybersecurity

handle is hein.journals/geojaf11 and id is 442 raw text is: The Stuxnet Enigma Implications for the Future of Cybersecurity Irving Lachow Over the past year there has been a great deal of dis- cussion and intrigue surrounding the Stuxnet worm-an incapacitating computer virus that wiped out nearly 6o percent of Iran's computer network. The Stuxnet attack has far-reaching cybersecurity and policy implications, as it demonstrates that nation-states are susceptible to crip- pling cyber actions from other nation-states or private enti- ties. The international community remains unsure of the source and exact purpose of the virus, but has become aware of its own significant vulnerability as a result of the attack. There are several valuable lessons that policy leaders can glean from the development and deployment of the Stuxnet worm. In order to begin a dialogue about what the virus means at a national policy level and to mitigate the risk of a similar virus attacking other infrastructures, policymakers must recognize that current security mea- sures may not be sufficient to guard against a sophis- ticated cyber assault of this type. Detailed information on the Stuxnet worm is increasingly becoming publicly available, and it is likely that at least some countries and/ or organizations will attempt to copy Stuxnet's success. Irving Lachow is Principal Information Security Engineer at the MITRE Corpora- tion. Dr. Lachow has extensive experience in both information tech- nolog, and national security. He has worked for the U.S. Depart- ment of Defense, Booz Allen Hamilton, and the RAND Co- poration. Dr. Lachow earned his PhD in Engineering and Pub- lic Policy from Carn- egie Mellon University. He earned an AB in Political Science and a BS in Physics from Stanford University. [II8] GeorgetownJournal of InternationalAffairs