Cyber warfarePentagon “dropping cyberbombs” on ISIS

Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work has said that the U.S. military is “dropping cyberbombs” on ISIS.

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced that the U.S. Cyber Command had been given its “first wartime assignment” – attacking and disrupting ISIS cyber infrastructure.

Not much is known about the operations of the Cyber Command, which was created in 2009 and which is located near the NSA headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland.

CNN reports that in the last few months, the Pentagon has allowed more information to be published about the U.S. military’s cyberwar against ISIS. Work, describing the Cyber Command’s operations at a news conference, said: “We are dropping cyberbombs. We have never done that before.”

Work added: “Just like we have an air campaign, I want to have a cyber campaign. I want to use all the space capabilities I have.”

The U.S. cyber campaign against ISIS has so far focused mostly on disrupting ISIS communications systems, on which the Islamist militants rely to spread their message, recruit new fighters and organize attacks.

Cyberattacks have also been used to disrupt ISIS finances.

Some in the intelligence community have expressed their worry that successful cyberattacks against ISIS could force the organization to go underground and adopt more low-tech alternatives – making it more difficult for Western intelligence to track and target the militants.

Carter has said, however, that this may well be a blessing in disguise. At a February briefing, he said: “As we disrupt the Isis communications via cyber or other methods, sometimes we do drive them to other means. But it cuts both ways. Sometimes, those other means are easier for us to listen to.”

“So by taking away some of the ways that they are used to operating, they’re protected and that they regard as an information sanctuary, drives them to other, including older technologies.”

“So one way or another, it is a very effective tool.”