Reuters reports on a new sanctions program launched by President Obama that targets “individuals and groups outside the United States that use cyber attacks to threaten U.S. foreign policy, national security or economic stability.”  

“In an executive order, Obama declared such activities a ‘national emergency’ and allowed the U.S. Treasury Department to freeze assets and bar other financial transactions of entities engaged in destructive cyber attacks.”  

Paul Rosenzweig : “In the end, what is most notable about the order is how strongly the US is flexing its economic muscle.  If access to US markets is of value, the Administration is signalling, strongly, that continued access may be conditioned on good cyber behavior.  The proof, as they say, will be in the pudding — are these just words on paper or part of a real enforcement effort?  Only time will tell, but this is a good first step.”