"Imagine the U.S. Was Just Hit With a Cyberattack. What Happens Next?"

A panel of experts in cybersecurity and national security were given hypothetical cyberattack scenarios, including one in which unknown hackers have gained access to a gas pipeline company's computers, networks, and hardware. The experts were then asked to discuss what would happen next and the potential escalation of such incidents into a real cyberwar. According to panelists, whether an incident turns into a cyberwar depends on who is behind the launch of the attack, what their motives are, and how the U.S. responds to the attack. Panelists touched on topics, including attribution, cooperative relationships between various U.S. government agencies to find out where the attack might be executed, and the implementation of effective strategies to deter adversaries from attacking the U.S. in the cyber realm. This article continues to discuss the possibility of a cyberwar, the potential consequences of devastating cyberattacks, and responses from a panel discussion on what would be done in the event that the U.S. experiences a massive cyberattack. 

MIT Technology Review reports "Imagine the U.S. Was Just Hit With a Cyberattack. What Happens Next?"