Russia and Yanks Create Hotline to Thwart Cyberwar

The Prez and Mr. Putin comparing notes
during the G-8 Summit in Ireland this week.
(photo: voanews.com)

In what now seems like ancient history, the former Soviet Union and the United States created a "hotline" to prevent unintended nuclear conflict. Once Mr. Gorbachev tore down the Berlin Wall, the need for the hotline appeared less urgent. However, a new generation in the Kremlin and in the White House has concluded that the hotline remains a very useful tool in the prevention of "miscalculation." To that end, Barack Hussein Obama and Vladimir Putin agreed to open a direct phone line to address cyber issues that could be misinterpreted as hostile acts originating from either nation.

The story, initially appearing in Ars Technica, was later posted in theverge.com. 

US Military Grooming Cyberwarriors

With hacking from alleged foreign, sovereign actors on the rise, the American military has quietly begun grooming a new generation of officers whose expertise is cyberwarfare. According to an Associated Press story in today's siliconvalley.com, the US Naval Academy is offering a major in cyber security. About three percent of Annapolis' Class of 2016 registered for the initiative. The Air Force has offered a degree program in computer science-cyberwarfare for nearly a decade. The Army has also gotten into the act.

Of course, practical training in cyber conflict comes with some unique challenges. As an Air Force officer noted, "You just can't go out there and start hacking. That's against the law."