EDITORIAL: Japan should play active role against cyber attacks

Born in the United States half a century ago, the Internet has grown into a global network of computers that connects people in all corners of the world. It is now an indispensable tool of daily life.

While the power and convenience of the Internet has increased dramatically over years, cyber attacks have become a common security threat to governments and businesses. The massive breaches of personal information due to hacking attacks against Sony Corp. are still fresh in our memory.

Against this backdrop, the U.S. Department of Defense has unveiled a new strategy for dealing with this increasingly serious security threat, recognizing cyberspace as the "fifth domain" of warfare after land, sea, air and outer space. The DOD assumes that hostile foreign governments, terrorist organizations and hackers are the main "enemies" in cyber warfare.

The Pentagon's new strategy puts special importance on expanding cooperation with allies and companies and developing necessary defense technologies and human resources.

At the same time, the Pentagon has made it clear that it is ready to counter serious cyber attacks with the use of military force.

Cyber attacks are such a serious menace to society because anyone with the necessary technology can instantly carry out destructive strikes against targets from anywhere at little cost.

Techniques used for cyber attacks have become very sophisticated and ingenious. Besides intrusions into computer systems for defacing websites and stealing secret information, a growing number of cyber attacks involve new types of viruses that target the control systems of specific organizations and facilities, such as electric power plants.

Countries such as the United States, Russia and China already have military organizations devoted to dealing with cyber attacks. There is even talk about large-scale cyber wars that could cause great destruction of life and property.

But there are few established international rules governing cyber space. There is no international consensus on whether cyber attacks, which could fundamentally threaten the security of a nation, should be treated as acts of war or crimes.

To compound the challenge of responding effectively to the security threat, it is difficult to track down and identify cyber attackers.

Random counterattacks not based on accurate and reliable information about the attackers could lead to huge collateral damage, such as mistaken strikes on a large number of innocent users.

The Japanese government has also become a target. In 2000, the websites of eight Japanese ministries and agencies came under attack.

In response, the government in 2005 set up an information security center within the Cabinet Secretariat. The center has been working with organizations such as the National Police Agency and the Defense Ministry to develop plans and measures to combat the threat.

The cyber-security center crafts annual plans and offers security advice to companies. But its activities are little known to the public.

In sharp contrast to many Western countries that have been steadily expanding their budgets for research and development efforts to enhance cyber security, Japan has cut such spending by nearly 50 percent in the past five years.

This year's defense white paper featured security threats in cyberspace for the first time.

It is obvious that the Japanese government needs to step up its efforts with a sense of urgency to make more effective responses to the problem.

Needless to say, Japan should focus on strictly defensive efforts in responding to the cyber menace to its security.

Japan should try to build sturdy systems for monitoring and defense by tapping available advanced technologies. Then, it should use these systems to strengthen cooperation with other countries and thereby play a leading role in the global battle against cyber attacks. With a strong commitment to these ambitious goals, the government should pour energies and resources into helping establish necessary international rules.

That's a duty that Japan, as a major information technology power, has to undertake.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 20