John McAfee claims cyberwar 'clearly on the horizon'

McAfee founder argues cybersecurity should be a bigger topic in US presidential race

Anti-virus doyen John McAfee has criticised the fact cybersecurity is not higher up the agenda in the US presidential race and predicted that a cyberwar is "clearly on the horizon".

Having recently confirmed his intention to run for the White House, McAfee argued in a blog post published on Business Insider yesterday that it was "strange" cybersecurity had not emerged as a bigger topic.

Although he is now seeking candidacy for the Libertarian Party, abandoning his initial plans to form his own party, the colourful tech tycoon is still running on a cybersecurity platform.

Based on information on the whitehouse.gov website, McAfee claimed the top five issues in the presidential race are the economy, education, energy and environment, immigration, and healthcare.

He went on to outline the threat a possible attack on the US' power grid could pose to the country.

Weaponised software, inserted into the grid's control centres, would turn it into a "pile of burned-out rubble" when activated, he said. Addressing the question of whether such an attack would actually be possible, McAfee referenced an apparent hack on Ukranian power company in December which he said was the first of its kind.

"A cyberwar is clearly on the horizon," wrote McAfee, who founded the eponymous anti-virus brand in 1987.

"I ask you now, to add up all the political issues outlined above, and compare those combined issues with the prospect of total annihilation of our nation, our culture and our identity."

"Do you see the strangeness in cybersecurity appearing nowhere on anyone's agenda?"

In a press release in late December confirming his tie-up with the Libertarian Party, McAfee said his campaign will "continue to push for a stronger, more competent cybersecurity infrastructure within the US government". More recently, McAfee's official Twitter account tweeted the following.