Revelations last month of epidemic levels of Chinese military attacks into internet-based systems and networks have only confirmed long-held suspicions. Indeed, it appears that no country, company or citizen is safe from unwanted intrusions by shadowy China-based organisations with spy-novel worthy identifiers such as People’s Liberation Army unit 61398. In the wake of these public assertions, there has been much hand-wringing about how the US and other affected nations must “hit back” against suspected online snooping and unauthorised high-technology assaults.

But just how to do that? Despite the fact that these attacks emanate from purportedly military facilities, their remedy does not lie in applying traditional military responses such as retaliation and deterrence.

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