One of the leading web security companies in the world, McAfee has warned the international community that, the established powers of the world are fast heading towards the development of cyber warfare weapons. In a report released by the security specialist, it has stated that, countries like China, France, Israel, Russia and the United States are well on their way towards a massive cyber arms race.

According to Dave DeWalt (CEO, McAfee),

“McAfee began to warn of the global cyber arms race more than two years ago, but now we’re seeing increasing evidence that it’s become real. Several nations around the world are actively engaged in cyberwar-like preparations and attacks. Today, the weapons are not nuclear, but virtual, and everyone must adapt to these threats.”

McAfee has further stated that the above mentioned countries have infact successfully developed offensive cyber warfare capabilities and that the scope of an all out cyber warfare is a very real possibility. Some of the most recent recorded cases of offensive cyber attacks are the cyber warfare operations undertaken by Russia against the state of Georgia, during the South Ossetia war in August, 2008. Another example of such attacks is the information warfare attack that was carried out against government and financial websites across South Korea and the United States of America.

As per the report,

“Over the past year, the increase in politically motivated cyberattacks has raised alarm and caution, with targets including the White House, Department of Homeland Security. US Secret Service and Department of Defense in the US alone. Nation-states are actively developing cyberwarfare capabilities and involved in the cyber arms race, targeting government networks and critical infrastructures. While we have not yet seen a ‘hot’ cyber war between major powers, the efforts of nation-states to build increasingly sophisticated cyberattack capabilities — and in some cases demonstrate a willingness to use them — suggests that a ‘Cyber Cold War’ may have already begun.”

Via Space War.