But that is facile: inadequate attribution affects inter-state deterrence as well, yet it still operates. Even when the source of an attack can be successfully disguised under a “false flag,” governments may find themselves sufficiently enmeshed in symmetrically interdependent relationships such that a major attack would be counterproductive.
有人认为，威慑在网络空间中并不管用，因为其来源难以确定。但这简直是信口开河：不充分的来源确定同样影响着国家间的威慑，但威慑仍然常常被使用。即便攻击源头可以用“伪旗”成功掩盖，政府仍可能陷入对称依赖的关系，让重大攻击产生适得其反的效果。比如，中国可能因为严重危害美国经济的袭击中受到损失，反之亦然。