United States now starting to take offensive role in cyber-warfare

"The Pentagon's Cyber Command will create 13 offensive teams by the fall of 2015 to help defend the nation against major computer attacks from abroad, Gen. Keith Alexander testified to Congress on Tuesday, a rare acknowledgment of the military's ability to use cyberweapons.

"The new teams are part of a broader government effort to shield the nation from destructive attacks over the Internet that could harm Wall Street or knock out electric power, for instance." ...

"Alexander's remarks came as U.S. intelligence officials elsewhere on Capitol Hill testified about the growing cyberthreat. At a national security threat hearing, ­Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. called on China to stop its 'cyber-stealing' of corporate secrets from U.S. networks.

"Alexander said the 13 teams would defend against destructive attacks. 'I would like to be clear that this team . . . is an offensive team,' he said.

"Twenty-seven other teams would support commands such as the Pacific Command and the Central Command as they plan offensive cyber capabilities. Separate teams would ­focus on protecting the Defense Department's computer networks. He said the first third of the forces, which officials have said will total several thousand civilians and uniformed personnel, will be in place by September and the second third a year later.

"Some teams are already in place, Alexander said, to focus on 'the most serious threats,' which he did not identify."

Pentagon creating teams to launch cyberattacks as threat grows (Washington Post)