Inside Cyber Warfare - Jeffrey Carr [149]
The cyber personnel force is estimated to be 2,400, with an additional 1,200 in reserves or at the militia level. The IRGC also recognizes the ability to use Iran’s hacker community against state targets.[147] However, the hacktivists’ loyalty to the IRGC may be in question, as seen in the 2009 Iranian elections. After the Iranian government utilized its cyber army to go after political dissenters, the Iranian hacking community struck back by defacing government websites.[148] Soon after, the Iranian Stuxnet crisis occurred In June 2011 Iran announced that the Khatam al-Anbiya Base, which is tasked with protecting Iranian cyberspace, is now capable to counter any cyber attack from abroad,[149] a claim that will likely be tested soon given the volatile nature of cyberspace.
In August 2011 Iran challenged the United States and Israel, stating that they are ready to prove themselves with their cyber warfare capabilities. Should the Iranian cyber army be provoked, Iran would combat these operations with their own “very strong” defensive capabilities.[150] Tehran has greatly increased its cyber warfare capability in the past years, but it is likely not yet ready to wage a full-scale cyber war with the United States or Israel, despite its claims.[151]
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[146] Siavash [pseud.], “Iranian Cyber Warfare Threat Assessment,” Siavash’s Blog, entry posted May 13, 2011 accessed August 30, 2011, http://www.cyberwarzone.com/content/iranian-cyber-warfare-threat-assessment.
[147] Ibid.
[148] Lisa Daftari, “Iran’s Citizen Cyber Warriors,” FrontPage Magazine, November 9, 2010 accessed August 30, 2011, http://frontpagemag.com/2010/11/09/iran%E2%80%99s-citizen-cyber-warriors/.
[149] “Iran capable of countering cyber attacks,” Press TV, July 8, 2011, accessed August 30, 2011, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/188146.html.
[150] Lee Ferran, “Iran to US, Israel: Bring On the Cyber War,” ABC News - The Blotter, August 8, 2011, accessed August 30, 2011, http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/iran-us-israel-bring-cyber-war/story?id=14255216.
[151] Kevin Coleman, “Iran Talks Cyber Tough,” Defense Tech, August 12, 2011, accessed August 30, 2011, http://defensetech.org/2011/08/12/iran-talks-cyber-tough/.
Israel
Israel is no stranger to cyber warfare; maybe one of the most successful known acts of cyber warfare occurred when Israel shut down Syria’s anti-aircraft radars so Israel’s Air Force could fly undetected to destroy a suspected Syrian nuclear site in 2007. In February 2010 the Israeli Intelligence Directorate published a paper highlighting the necessity of cyber capabilities to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The paper also realized the importance of cyber defense centers set up in the United States and the UK.[152]
In June 2010, word was released that Israel had begun setting up a cyber warfare unit, but with a twist—the unit was using the same recruiting methods that the IDF uses for Israeli commando units. These teams are dispatched to target countries, where they not only act as a covert commando unit, but also launch cyber attacks from inside that country. The unit is structured under the military intelligence department.[153] This goes along with the Israeli strategy that cyber warfare is an alternate means to conventional warfare, one that can be employed much more often because of the lack of formal consequences.[154]
In early 2011 Israel convened a panel of cyber experts to discuss the future of the Israeli cyber defense and security issues.[155] The panel concluded that not only do offensive cyber capabilities need to be used, a strong defense for the Israeli cyber infrastructure is also necessary. Soon after this session, Israel set up a cyber command to address these needs.[156]
The 80-person command is said to be primarily a defensive unit, although it is very likely the unit will have offensive capabilities.[157] The command will coordinate efforts between the government, cyber industry, and universities. There is also a plan to develop cyber studies at the secondary school