Venable’s Managing Director of Cybersecurity Services, Ari Schwartz, was quoted in a December 16, 2016 ,Investor’s Business Daily article on the appropriate response to cyberattacks. While the federal government is stepping up its intelligence sharing with the private sector, there remain no clear rules of engagements on how to respond to cyberattacks. Before it became illegal, some private companies attempted counterattacks when their systems were attacked only to see their attempts backfire. Under current law, private sector companies can only go on the defensive in an attempt to prevent attacks.
Schwartz said he believes the threat of economic sanctions might be the best defense for the time being against cyberthreats from foreign governments. He pointed to the decrease in internet protocol address thefts by China following threats of economic sanctions. "If we respond in the same way, we are legitimizing their action," he said. "We could have a response today that would work. But if it angers a lot of people or throws up new questions about norms or highlights some tool we have...those would be a detriment."