Will cyberweapons deter war?

Abstract

The recent surge in the destructiveness of cyberweapons raises the question: will cyberweapons merely be among the most potent weapons in a country’s arsenal? Or, will they behave like nuclear weapons do in the present world order: as deterrents against interstate conflict? To answer this question, this paper first clarified exactly what gives nuclear weapons deterring ability. A list of three necessary criteria for conflict-deterring technology was generated: extreme destructiveness, ease of delivery, and resilience against a disarming first strike. Since cyberweapons fulfill these criteria, they can, in principle, deter war. Finally, the challenges to cyber deterrence were evaluated, along with recommendations for policymakers and charitable foundations concerned about international security