Organized Internet-based crime has reached such intensity and scale that the distinction between cybercrime and cyberwar is being blurred, security giant McAfee said in its annual Virtual Criminology Report. “Is the age of cyberwar at hand?”

McAfee asked in the report, citing evidence that countries hostile to industrial democracies are involved in some of the more serious and sustained cybercrime. In response, McAfee said, “nation-states are arming themselves for the cyberspace battlefield.”

The number of reports of cyberattacks and network infiltrations that appear to be linked to nation-states and political goals continues to increase, McAfee said. “There is active debate as to when a cyberattack reaches the threshold of damage and disruption to warrant being categorized as cyberwarfare,” said the report. “With critical infrastructure as likely targets of cyberattacks, and private company ownership of many of the information systems in these sectors, private companies will likely be caught in the crossfire,” the report warned.

The CEO of McAfee said, “Experts disagree about the use of the term ‘cyberwar,’ and our goal at McAfee is not to create hype or stoke unwarranted fear. But our research has shown that while there may be debate over the definition of cyberwar, there is little disagreement that there are increasing numbers of cyberattacks that more closely resemble political conflict than crime.

McAfee believes the private sector at large needs to prepare for cyberattacks, and “those businesses that can weather the storm better than their competitors could be in a position to gain considerable market share.” McAfee also called for greater transparency in current discussions on combating cybercrime. The report said, “Too much of the debate on policies related to cyberwar is happening behind closed doors.”

Source: http://homelandsecuritynewswire.com/new-report-line-between-cybercrime-and-cyberwar-blurred