A Pentagon report suggests the U.S. nuclear strategy may involve using nuclear weapons in response to non-nuclear attacks, such as cyberattacks targeting U.S. critical infrastructure, according to The Hill.
The Nuclear Posture Review, which was leaked in its draft version last week by HuffPost, details a drastically different nuclear response than ever before. Whereas before, U.S. officials viewed the use of nuclear weapons appropriate during extreme circumstances, the draft expands the definition of an extreme circumstance to "include significant non-nuclear strategic attacks," according to The Hill.
Previously, the document stated that the government would consider a nuclear attack only in narrow circumstances, like the event of a biological attack. However, the draft guidance provides for possible nuclear responses to aggressive cyberattacks, The Hill reports.
U.S. officials told The New York Times that although cyberattack makes that cut, there are a number of more conventional plans for responding to the attacks, according to The Hill.
More articles on cybersecurity:
Man claims he bought laptop at resale shop, but it belongs to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Texas rolls out cybersecurity training program for girls
Hackers try to break into Singing River Health System computers, cause network shutdown