Cyber weaponry will become more common in future, but it is unlikely to deter hackers, warns a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
On the other hand, it could easily lead to state-sponsored cyberwar.
The OECD report says it has become easy for nation states to set up secret cyber attack units.
Technology firms using "lurid language" and lobbying distort the UK government’s plans to protect the country against cyber attacks, according to the study.
Citing easy setting up of covert cyber attack units, the report says, "Any agency that researches, for defensive purposes, the nature of cyber attacks has all the knowledge needed to originate attacks, and disguise the fact they are doing so."
The study says that military preparations have already begun to counter hacker groups from China and Russia.
However, the study also warns that a military response to cyber security is a mistake because it is difficult to identify the attacker correctly.
The authors believe it is better to increase the security and safety of critical systems, such as national infrastructure of communications, energy, finance, food, government, health, transport and water, which are in the private sector.
They have concluded that very few single cyber-related events have the capacity to cause a global shock.
The study outlined hacking, viruses and worms that spread across the internet, trojans, distributed denial of service attacks using botnets, root-kits, and the use of social engineering, as cyber warfare strategies and weapons.
