Hacktivism and dis/misinformation campaigns
Module 14 examines topics, such as hacktivism, terrorism, espionage, dis/misinformation campaigns, and warfare in cyberspace, as well as national and international perspectives and responses to these cyber activities. The purpose of this Module is to discuss these topics and identify current debates and conflicting views on these topics within and between countries.
Learning Objectives
After completing this module, you should be able to:
- define misinformation and disinformation and differentiate between the two within the context of cyberwarfare.
- identify the Actors Involved in Misinformation Campaigns: Recognize the roles of nation-states, non-state actors, and hacktivists in conducting misinformation and disinformation campaigns.
- explain the specific methods used in these campaigns, including social media manipulation, phishing, and the use of AI-generated deepfakes.
- identify common targets such as political processes, businesses, and social groups, and discuss the potential impacts on these targets.
- recognize how misinformation affects political stability, economic security, and social harmony.
- understand how misinformation can compromise individual and organizational security.
- describe learn strategies to critically evaluate information and discern between reliable and unreliable sources.
- explain cybersecurity practices that can help prevent the spread of misinformation and enhance national and international security.
- describe the importance of international collaboration and information sharing in mitigating the threats posed by misinformation.
- list developed strategies for combating misinformation and disinformation in cyberwarfare, incorporating technology, policy, and public awareness initiatives.
Summary
Hacker campaigns using misinformation and disinformation are key elements of cyberwarfare, impacting real-world events significantly. These campaigns, conducted by nation-states and non-state actors like hacktivists, aim to deceive, manipulate public opinion, and undermine trust in institutions. Tactics include social media manipulation, phishing, and AI-generated deepfakes to spread false narratives. These activities threaten political stability, economic security, and social harmony. Addressing these threats necessitates improved cybersecurity, media literacy, and international cooperation to bolster defenses against ongoing and emerging cyber threats, ensuring national and international security.
Nation-states may engage in misinformation and disinformation campaigns to advance their geopolitical objectives. This can involve spreading false information about other nations, political figures, or events to create confusion and manipulate perceptions.
Cyberwarfare refers to the use of digital tactics and technologies to conduct warfare in the cyberspace domain. It involves the use of computer systems, networks, and information technology infrastructure to launch attacks against an adversary, with the aim of causing damage, disruption, or gaining a strategic advantage. Cyberwarfare can be conducted by nation-states, state-sponsored groups, hacktivists, and other malicious actors.
Non-State Actors: Hacktivist groups or other non-state actors may use misinformation campaigns to promote their ideological agenda or to create social and political unrest. Elections and political processes are frequent targets of misinformation campaigns. Hackers may attempt to influence voter opinions, manipulate election outcomes, or undermine trust in democratic institutions. Businesses and corporations may be targeted to damage their reputation, affect stock prices, or gain a competitive advantage. Cultural, religious, or ethnic groups can be targeted to exacerbate existing tensions or provoke conflicts.
Methods of engaging in dis/misinformation campaigns include, but are not limited to social media manipulation, phishing attacks, deepfakes, etc.
Misinformation campaigns often leverage social media platforms to rapidly spread false information. Bots and fake accounts may be used to amplify certain narratives and create the illusion of widespread support.
Hackers may use phishing emails to deliver malicious content or to trick individuals into sharing sensitive information, which can then be used to create and spread false narratives.
The use of AI-generated deepfake technology allows for the creation of convincing fake videos or audio recordings, making it appear as though individuals are saying or doing things they never did.
The impact of dis/misinformation is not fully understood. However, there are some obvious political, economic, and security related effects. Misinformation campaigns can contribute to political instability by eroding trust in institutions, spreading rumors, and creating divisions within societies. Disinformation targeting businesses can lead to financial losses, damage to brand reputation, and a loss of customer trust. False information can also be used to manipulate individuals or organizations into taking actions that compromise their security, such as revealing sensitive information or falling victim to cyberattacks.
The ubiquitous nature of digital communication and related systems requires that end-users become increasing sophisticated and know how to both identify and/or authenticate digital resources. Promoting media literacy can help individuals critically evaluate information and discern between reliable and unreliable sources. Enhanced Cybersecurity Measures: Improved cybersecurity practices can help prevent hacking incidents and the spread of misinformation through secure channels. Cybersecurity efforts and information sharing between nations are crucial for identifying and mitigating cross-border threats.
Addressing the challenges posed by hacker campaigns of misinformation and disinformation requires a multifaceted approach involving technology, policy, and public awareness initiatives. As technology continues to evolve, staying vigilant and adaptive to emerging threats is essential in the ongoing battle against cyberwarfare.
Cyberwarfare is an evolving and complex field with significant implications for national security, international relations, and the privacy and safety of individuals. As technology continues to advance, addressing the challenges posed by cyber threats requires ongoing collaboration, innovation, and the development of robust defense strategies at both the national and international levels.
Key Takeaways
Dis/misinformation are strategically used tactics to influence public opinion, create discord, and undermine the credibility of individuals, organizations, or nations. They support geopolitical objectives by spreading falsehoods about political entities and events to manipulate perceptions.
Non-state actors such as hacktivists, use these methods to further ideological agendas, create social unrest, or impact political processes like elections.
Utilization of social media for rapid spread and amplification via bots and fake accounts.
Phishing attacks to harvest sensitive information used in crafting persuasive false narratives.
Deployment of AI technologies like deepfakes to produce realistic but fake audio or visual media.
Dis/misinformation campaigns target political, economic, and social targets. The main objective is to produce the erosion of trust in democratic institutions and political instability. Damages business reputations, affecting stock prices, and causing financial losses, and exacerbates tensions among cultural, religious, or ethnic groups, leading to conflicts.
Countermeasures include the promoting of media literacy to enhance the public’s ability to discern between reliable and unreliable information., implementing robust cybersecurity measures to secure information and communications technology against misuse, and fostering international collaboration and information sharing to identify and mitigate cross-border cybersecurity threats.
Key Terms/Concepts
Countermeasures
Cyberterrorism
Cyberwarfare
Disinformation
Hacktivism
Hacker Campaigns
Hacker ethic
Misinformation
Non-State Actors
Read, Review, Watch and Listen
- Read The growing momentum of disinformation within cyber warfare (Federal News Network, August 2021)
- Read Why Disinformation is a Cybersecurity Threat (EU Disinfo Lab, May 2021)
- Read CISA’s mdm-incident-response-guide_508
- Review Megha Shah’s 13 Types of Hackers You Should Know – Infographic (TechFunnel, Feb. 2022)
- Review Summary of Terrorism Threat to the U.S. Homeland: (Department of Homeland Security, February 2022)
- Watch Top 10 Infamous Anonymous Hacks (watchmojo, June, 2020) [See below]
- Watch Today’s Russia On The Receiving End Of Cyber Attacks By Anonymous (March, 2022) [also embedded below]
- Listen to A “psychological vaccine”: Why prebunking is the best way to fight misinformation (BIG Think, Nov. 2022)
- Listen to NPR’s An Anarchist Explains How Hackers Could Cause Global Chaos (All Tech Considered, February 2018)
- Listen to A disinformation expert’s guide on combatting online abuse (Stephano Kotsonis, April 2022)
- Listen to Dead Cows, Oxblood and Other Cyber Vigilantes: A History of Hacktivism (CSIS, April 2018)
Read, Review, Watch and Listen to all listed materials by the due date listed within the course LMS site.
Contact the professor with any course-related questions. Report any broken links to Dr. Ramirez-Thompson (thompsne@cod.edu).
Supplemental Resources
- The Lonely Work of Moderating Hacker News (The New Yorker, August 2019) [last accessed, November 2023]
- 2600 News (last accessed, November 2023)
- Blackhat (last accessed, November 2023)
- Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) [last accessed, November 2023]
- Cybercrime Cyberterrorism Cyberwarfare: Averting an Electronic Waterloo (CSIS, 1998 as cited in DOJ OJP, 2023) [last accessed, November 2023]
- In 1998, this article was merely theoretical and stringently criticized by government and enforcement officials. Retrospectively, the article was visionary and a warning to both private and governmental sectors throughout the world.
- Combating Misinformation (Meta March 2020) [last accessed, November 2023]
Read, Review, Watch and Listen to all listed materials by the due date listed within the course LMS site.
Click HERE to report any needed updates, e.g., broken links.
Enhancing cybersecurity, promoting media literacy, and fostering international cooperation to mitigate cyber threats are all forms of countermeasures.
The politically motivated use of computers and information technology to cause severe disruption or widespread fear in society.
The use of computer technology to disrupt the activities of a state or organization, especially the deliberate attacking of information systems for strategic or military purposes.
Disinformation is a subset of misinformation, that which is deliberately deceptive. Rumors are information not attributed to any particular source, and so are unreliable and often unverified, but can turn out to be either true or false.
Derived from combining the words 'Hack' and 'Activism', hacktivism is the act of hacking, or breaking into a computer system, for politically or socially motivated purposes. The individual who performs an act of hacktivism is said to be a hacktivist.
Utilizing misinformation and disinformation to impact real-world events, conducted by both nation-states and non-state actors.
Refers to a phenomenon that a hacker is ethically obliged to share their knowledge, expertise, and access to information to other peers. It is a belief or practice incorporated within the hacker community to enable hackers to benefit from the work of other hackers, crackers or similar individuals sharing the same trait.
The false or inaccurate information, especially that which is deliberately intended to deceive.
Hacktivist groups and other non-state actors using misinformation campaigns for ideological agendas, often targeting elections, political processes, businesses, and cultural or ethnic groups.
