Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Make a sustaining gift today to support local journalism!

The Battlefront Against Cyber Attackers Is An Adorable Miniature City

On Monday, the Washington Post reported that Chinese hackers had gained access to the designs of more than two dozen US weapons systems, including combat ships, aircraft, and missile defense systems. Although China denied the claims in the Defense Department report cited by the post, that country’s government announced earlier today that they have plans to conduct China’s first “digital military” exercise next week. President Obama and the Pentagon have increasingly addressed concerns about government-backed Chinese hackers in recent months, and next week, the president is scheduled to discuss cyber security with China’s president.

But cat and mouse diplomacy isn’t the only plan for staving off cyber threats. The SANS Institute, a private security firm, has been training US cyber warriors using real world attack scenarios bridging the virtual space with potential physical consequences of a cyber-attack. SANS has constructed something called “NetWars CyberCity,” a miniature model city located somewhere near the New Jersey Turnpike. Earlier this year, Brady Carlson spoke with Ed Skoudis, SANS instructor and the director of NetWars Cyber City.

Virginia Prescott is the Gracie Award-winning host of Word of Mouth, Civics 101, The 10-Minute Writers Workshop podcasts, and the Writers on A New England Stage series on New Hampshire Public Radio. Prior to joining NHPR, she was editor, producer, and director for NPR programs On Point and Here & Now, and directed interactive media for New York Public Radio.
Related Content

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.