It's also uncertain just what would be serious enough to prompt a retaliatory hack, but the White House had indicated that it would have to be more than an opinion manipulation campaign. That most likely means altering vote counts, preventing votes or interfering with registration.

The preparation is believed to be the result of the White House loosening the rules for cyberattacks. While it wasn't initially clear what the change involved, the decision apparently allowed the military to infiltrate target networks before there's even a foreign attack, let alone an order to respond. While former President Obama did allow for defensive cyberattacks, they required either the President's approval for major campaigns or three committees that included unaffected agencies. Now, most of the teamwork involves the Pentagon, Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. They could approve some strikes without involving others in the government, or even the White House in some situations.

While the potential for a rapid response sounds good, there are concerns that it might create problems of its own. The old approach made sure the US considered alternatives before launching a cyberattack. Here, the military might launch a campaign without considering less provocative options or a broader overall strategy. With that said, the chances of a diplomatic solution to election interference aren't very high in the current climate. The threat of fast retaliation may be the most effective deterrent in the short term.