WASHINGTON: The US government and private sector should strike back against hackers to counter cyberattacks aimed at stealing data and disrupting important computer networks, a policy report said. The panel envisioned measures such as taking down “botnets” that disrupt cyberspace, freeing data from “ransomware” hackers and “rescue missions” to recover stolen data. But “there are certain steps companies can take” to repel and deter cyberattacks, he added, advocating the establishment of a legal framework for them. ”I believe these types of measures should remain unlawful,” she wrote, adding that it remains difficult to be sure of cyberattacks’ sources. ”The risks of collateral damage to innocent Internet users, to data security, and to national security that can result from overly aggressive defensive efforts needs to be better accounted for.” — AFP

Source: The Star November 01, 2016 04:30 UTC