From cybercrime to cyberwar? The international policy shift and its implications for Canada

Countries are creating strategies to defend themselves from cyberwar and cyberespionage in response to cyber attacks such as Stuxnet, Flame and the use of social media in national conflicts. Nations are grouping in blocs for these strategies along traditional international-relations lines. Combating cybercrime is becoming more difficult, and less important, as a result, since potential partners in crime-fighting must increasingly treat each other as cyber opponents. Canada should not abandon potential partnerships with China, Russia and their allies because of increased cyberwarfare concerns. Canada should strive for a middle ground that that will allow Canada to cooperate with every country as long as that cooperation advances the Canadian interest in a more secure cyberspace for Canadians.