The Pentagon is reportedly developing a cyber weapons programme, which, like in the UK, will have attacking abilities.
Anonymous military officials told the Washington Post that the Pentagon has a list of approved cyber weapons. They say that such weapons, including viruses, will used against enemies of the US after getting the approval of the president. During war, the approval may be given in advance.
The report also revealed how decisions related to cyberwarfare is taking after involving the CIA.
The Pentagon had said earlier that it is preparing a strategic cyber defence review and that the US would deem a cyber attack as a war against the country.
Last week, UK armed forces minister Nick Harvey had told the Guardian that "action in cyberspace will form part of the future battlefield."
Harvey had said that the cyber-weapons programme will be "an integral part of the country’s armoury."
"We need a toolbox of capabilities and that’s what we are currently developing," he added.
Harvey had said that though cyber-weapons would not replace traditional weapons, but they would handled and deployed in the same way as special forces.
