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TECHNOLOGY Wednesday 29 March 2017

What makes a cyberattack? Experts lobby to restrict the term

RAPHAEL SATTER a recently published hand- resented a Who’s Who of
AP Cybersecurity Writer book, the Tallinn Manual American hackers . Two
LONDON (AP) — When U.S. 2.0 , is meant to help poli- of the cases Leiderman
senator John McCain told cymakers to distinguish se- has been involved in, ac-
Ukrainian television that the rious attacks from minor in- tivist Jeremy Hammond
allegedly Russian-backed cidents. Other experts are and gonzo journalist Bar-
breach of the Democratic directly lobbying journalists rett Brown, have featured
National Committee’s serv- and politicians to moder- stiff sentences meted out
er was “an act of war,” Mi- ate their tone. over alleged “cyber at-
chael Schmitt cringed. “Words matter,” said Thom- tacks.” “It affects the abil-
Schmitt, a professor of law as Rid, who teaches at the ity to get a fair trial,” said
at the U.S. Naval War Col- Department of War Studies Leiderman. “The person
lege and University of Ex- at King’s College London. who screws around a little
eter in England, has spent “Words affect intelligence bit is getting the same type
years trying to defuse talk operations; words affect of charges and the same
of cyberattacks, an ex- military operations; words kind of media coverage as
pression used to describe affect the behavior of al- a state-sponsored actor.”
everything from remotely lies and enemies. And of Some don’t think it’s neces-
disabling a city’s power course words shape what sary to crack down on the
grid to stealing a Facebook lawmakers think and what term.
password. The concern, for laws are made. So if we’re Dieter Fleck, the honorary
Schmitt and others, is that not precise, we’re literally president of the Interna-
overheated rhetoric could escalating a problem.” tional Society for Military
prompt dangerous diplo- Professionals are trying to Law, said it was generally
matic missteps. knock back talk of cyber- fine to use the word “cyber-
“We’re very nervous when attacks, too. When Oklaho- attack” so long as it wasn’t
people say ‘cyberattack,’ ma Senator Jim Inhofe de- confused with the much
because a ‘cyberattack’ scribed the massive data more serious category of
opens the door to a state breach at the U.S. Office intrusions formally known as
responding at very highest of Personnel Management “armed attacks.”
level of severity,” Schmitt as one of America’s “most But Jake Davis, the ex-
said in a recent interview. damaging cyberattacks,” spokesman for the Lulz Se-
“If there’s any area where one of America’s top spy- Michael Schmitt, a professor of law at the U.S. Naval War Col- curity group of hackers,
we need to be careful, it’s masters corrected him. lege and University of Exeter in England, poses for a picture at said journalists needed to
this.” “I would say that this was the Victory Services Club, in London, Friday, March 24, 2017. articulate what was hap-
Associated Press
Schmitt is one of a group espionage,” then-Director pening online without re-
of academics campaign- of National Intelligence nage, which we conduct the word “cyberattack” sorting to the word “cyber-
ing to change the lan- James Clapper said . “I as well, and other nations can also tip the scales of attack,” a verbal crutch
guage around electronic think there is a difference do, versus an attack.” justice, said attorney Jay which he said came “from
subterfuge. Their work on between an act of espio- The indiscriminate use of Leiderman, who has rep- a place of laziness.”q

Got camera? Facebook adds

more Snapchat-like features

BARBARA ORTUTAY day. With it, you can tap a that can be added to im-
AP Technology Writer new camera icon on the ages. Other effects, such
NEW YORK (AP) — Face- top left corner. That opens as animations and other
book is adding more Snap- up the phone’s camera to interactive filters, are a new
chat-like features to its app. do a photo or video post. twist to dressed-up photos.
The company says it wants You could have posted Also new is a “stories” tool
to let your camera “do the photos from the app be- that lets you post photos
talking” as more people fore, but it took an extra and videos that stay live
are posting photos and tap. for 24 hours. This feature is
videos instead of blocks of Once you open the cam- already available on Mes-
text. era, you’ll find Facebook’s senger and Instagram, In this May 16, 2012 file photo, the Facebook logo is displayed
Facebook is rolling out an other new Snapchat-like which is owned by Face- on an iPad in Philadelphia.
app update starting Tues- features, including filters book. q Associated Press