Does Averting Cyberwar Mean Giving Up Web Privacy?

The old challenge of providing public safety while also protecting civil liberties has found a new manifestation in the cyber age.

Cybercrime and espionage are rising rapidly, and the United States and other governments are preparing for the possibility of cyberwar. At the same time, civil libertarians worry about preserving Internet freedom. Security experts focus on the "attribution problem" — the challenge of identifying and tracking down the source of a cyberattack. Under current conditions, cybercrime, cyber-espionage, and cyberattacks can be directed remotely, with the perpetrator's identity and location a secret. Privacy advocates fear the loss of anonymity for Internet users.

For both sides, it's a conflict that needs to be resolved.