The deployment of malware is a likely option, a senior Whitehall source said yesterday. Home Secretary Amber Rudd, the home secretary, hinted at covert retaliation last week. Lee Munson, Security Researcher at Comparitech.com, said Amber Rudds comments are either borne out of political positioning and bluster, or act as a further demonstration that someone who knows little about the basics of encryption is woefully out of her depth where technology is concerned. He said: Sure no nation state would be so stupid that it would publicise an attack in advance, let alone comment on the manner in which it would likely be effected.”]