CYBER WARFARE: A DISCERNABLE BATTLEFIELD

Abstract

The internet has indubitably become an indispensable part of our lives. It facilitates almost everything from a thing as casual and innocuous as social media to something as serious and important as defense of a country. With time this importance has been realized by various states and international organization with their focus shifting to sophistication of their cyber security. 

Nations have been waging war against each other since their inception in the wake to further some national agenda. Initially the methods of war were limited to weapons only, however with passage of time and growing utility of the internet, the cyberspace has also become an equally effective medium.  Intrusion with Iran’s nuclear programme, alleged cyber-attacks by China on U.S systems to steal sensitive information are some examples of how the internet has be used to create a war like situation .such activities in the cyberspace are colloquially termed as ‘Cyber Warfare, which generally involve actions by a state or international organization aimed to attack and damage computer networks of other states. These attacks may be directed towards financial institutions, infrastructure and other areas of national importance. However not all such activities can be termed as cyber warfare although they may contain the characteristics of the same, hence it is pertinent to distinguish between warfare and non-warfare activities. The pace at which threats may multiply in cyberspace is beyond any guess work and it not being a conventional war its intricacies obviously differ. This research paper aims to discuss the scope of cyber warfare, recent examples of such warfare in. The international arena, the principles and other legal framework governing it and the new laws being developed to regulate and minimize it.