Trump Signs New US National Cyber Strategy, Plan Calls For Offensive Responses - Bolton

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st September, 2018) US President Donald Trump signed a new national cyber strategy that includes plans to respond offensively against any nation that targets the United States, White House National Security Adviser John Bolton told reporters.

"Today the president signed a national cyber strategy, the first fully articulated cyber strategy in 15 years," Bolton said in a conference call on Thursday. "The strategy takes effect today."

Bolton also said that Washington will respond both offensively and defensively to any nation's cyber activities against the United States.

The strategy, Bolton added, recognizes that US private and public sectors struggle with cyber defense as foreign actors increase their malign activities.

The plan aims to protect US information systems, improve resilience in cyberspace, and secure infrastructure, he said. In addition, the strategy will foster American economic growth, cyber ingenuity and preserve US cyber stability, Bolton said.

Bolton added that US Federal agencies will receive guidance on how to execute Trump's new cybersecurity plan and will collaborate to implement it.

In March, a bipartisan group of lawmakers called on Trump to devise a cyber defense strategy to protect critical infrastructure including the electric grid, oil pipelines, air traffic control, and financial institutions.