Can Cyber Attacks Prevent Wars?

Abstract

Cyber attacks have in many instances interrupted production facilities, banking, management of public and private enterprises and also interfered with military planning and military exercises. I propose here that cyber attacks can promote conflict resolution and prevent war. The possibilities and limits of this form of “asymmetric warfare to promote peace” are analyzed. Will the method work best to avert an attack by a large state on a small country, or can conflicts between large powers also be delayed and maybe solved by the use of cyber threats? Is secrecy needed and is it possible? Today, when the risk of nuclear war is said to be increasing, it is increasingly important to find non-military ways to defuse and avoid conflicts.