Stuxnet was a remarkable achievement, given its sophistication and single-minded focus. But it was also remarkably reckless. Because like the atomic bombs detonated over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it introduced the use of a powerful technology that will have consequences for years to come.
At least cyberweapons have the potential to be far more selective in their damage—though of course they can be just as devastating, if not more so, in their collateral damage. And as demonstrated in this analysis, it takes a lot of extra work to make the weapons specifically targeted and to avoid unintentional damage.
