Leaders | Rules of the code

What is a responsible cyber power?

Britain’s principles for cyberwarfare are a good start

Apr 5th 2023

Russia’s cyberwar in Ukraine has been as reckless as its physical one. Its cyber-attack on satellites on the first day of fighting mistakenly spilled over into almost 6,000 German wind farms. It sprayed “wiper” malware across the country, irreversibly destroying data. And it directed attacks at civilian power and water infrastructure, adding to the misery of its shells and rockets. It has been one of the most intensive cyber-campaigns ever conducted—and perhaps the most irresponsible.

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Use the force—responsibly”