Military Intelligence: IDF is prepared for Cyberwarfare

By Arnon Ben-Dror
Israel Defense Forces
03 February 2010

In a paper published by the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, Major General Amos Yadlin, in the Intelligence Research Center Journal, described the development of cyberwarfare, computer attacks in the 21st century, and the capabilities required from armies to fight this medium successfully.

According to Maj. Gen. Yadlin, cyberwarfare is divided into three areas:
intelligence gathering, defense and attack. "Anyone who is able to hack (personal computers, cell phones and internet) ends up knowing quite a lot. If you catch my drift," warned the Military Intelligence chief in the article.

"Just imagine the damage a single skilled hacker could cause if he penetrated the systems of the infrastructure, transportation and communications companies," continued Maj. Gen. Yadlin. Additionally he spoke of the attacks on government sites, banks and communications in Estonia following the crisis with Russia, which accused Russia of cyberwarfare; the attack on local networks during the war in Georgia, where Russia was also accused; and the attacks on computer networks in the U.S. and South Korea, where North Korea was blamed for penetrating into U.S and South Korean servers. None of the charges against the aggressor countries, stressed Yadlin, were verified even until now.

Maj. Gen. Yadlin, concerned about the potential defensive capabilities,
stated: "Many people believe that defense must go hand in hand with intelligence gathering and attack. Cyber power gives the little guys the kind of ability that used to be confined to superpowers. Like unmanned aircraft, it's a use of force that can strike without regard for distance or duration, and without endangering fighters' lives."

The head of the Military Intelligence Directorate reminded that the United States has already established a cyber command, and in Britain there is an official body that deals with the issuet "because they understand the responsibility for dealing with this evolving new world,"
and stressed that "proper dimension for cyber warfare fits with Israel's conception of security. No great natural resources are required. It's all available right here, without any dependence on foreign aid, in an area with which Israeli young people are very familiar."

"Staying ahead of the game is important in light of the dizzying change of pace in the cyber world: at most, a few months in response to a change, compared to the years that pilots have."

Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin concluded: "Every day I meet the soldiers and officers whose job is to march us confidently ahead into this new world.
With them we will be able to compete in the Cyber Premier League."