Making SkyNet: Autonomous Security for DoD Weapons

Description:

Hackers go after industry, corporate, and home computers, but these are not the highest value targets. Hackers can also target DoD and weapons systems, which can cause incredible damage. Like all other sectors, the military is faced with a shortage of experts, and needs to be able to defend and respond at machine speeds, not human speeds.
Through DARPA, the DoD has been working on autonomous cyber systems (ACS) to protect their high value assets like weapons. An ACS is like an autonomous car that can react and respond, but in the cyberspace.

ACS’s promise to find new vulnerabilities and fix them before attackers. They also have been tested in an offensive role, which brings up significant policy and ethical considerations. We discuss both technical and policy considerations.