MOSCOW, September 30 (Itar-Tass) — Russia must have at its disposal all the tools needed to counter cyber attacks and other forms of “electronic aggression,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin believes. The recent disorders, internal conflicts and interventions provoked by them in countries of North Africa and the Middle East began according to one and the same scenario: the aggressors tried through social networks and the Internet to undermine the cultural foundations of these states, the deputy prime minister stressed at the founding congress of the Volunteers Special Purpose Movement (DON) in support of the army and navy.
“The same tools are currently used against us,” Rogozin warned. “We cannot prohibit this, because we live in the 21st century - new information possibilities. But we have to master them.” According to the deputy prime minister, it is necessary to do to this in order resist the information aggression and be able, if necessary, to turn these tools against the attackers. “We must learn to be one step ahead of those who consider Russia an eyesore,” he stressed.
It is possible that Rogozin who supervises the national military-industrial complex would like to charge the Foundation for Prospective Studies – Russia’s agency similar to the US DARPA, with the task to develop an effective weapon to counter cyber threats of the future. On September 28, the State Duma lower house of parliament adopted the presidential Law “On the Foundation for Prospective Studies,” which determines the legal framework and the purpose of the Foundation’s activities.
As for DARPA, it became known this week that it announced a tender for the creation of an interactive map that would help the US intelligence agencies and the Pentagon to determine the level of protection of enemy’s military infrastructure facilities from cyber attacks of the United States. And the US Air Force command on a competitive basis intends to ensure the development and procurement of a number of computer programs aimed at interfering with or destroying computer networks and command centres. Thus, according to experts, in fact, Washington has already started preparations for new-generation wars with the use of offensive cyber weapons.
DON movement is a broad patriotic coalition of military professionals, representatives of the Cossack community, youth leaders, community and religious leaders. The movement was created in February this year. Its main objectives are to develop and implement programs and projects in the field of the defence-industrial sector and military science. The movement’s founding congress is expected to approve the charter and mission statement, elect the leadership and auditing bodies.