Finland To Develop Cyber Defense 'Counterpunch'

Finland's Ministry of Defense (MoD) has drafted a national cyber defense strategy proposal that would provide substantial investment to develop an arsenal of cyber defense weaponry to protect crucial military, government and economic data networks and critical infrastructure. The plan would increase funding for the military's dedicated Cyber Defense Unit, enabling it to mount cyber attacks on "hostile forces" as part of a counterpunch "Credible Response Platform," which is likely to deploy malware, worms and viruses against attackers on the pretext of "attack being the best form of defense." "Attack may be an unfortunate choice of word, but there can be no defensive capability without the ability to offer a counterpunch. The two things go hand in hand," said Lt. Gen. Arto Räty, the permanent secretary at the MoD. The MoD expects to have a concrete cyber defense strategy proposal to present to parliament in 2012. Specialist organizations within the military, national security and government will contribute to the final strategy, the first parts of which could be operational in 2013.