Information warfare is the targeted use of information and mass media to influence public opinion, politics, and the behavior of groups and individuals. According to another definition, information warfare is a confrontation between various parties involving the dissemination of specially prepared data and counteraction to similar external influences. In both cases, it serves one or more purposes:
- Manipulation of public opinion
- Extortion
- Creation of conflicts
- Provocation
- Disorganization of the enemy
- Destabilization of the political situation
- Obtaining financial gain
Any channels of information transmission are used as means of waging information warfare, from mass media to gossip. The targets are not only large corporations and government organizations. Any individual can become a potential victim.
Numerous news stories about information attacks confirm this fact. In all cases, illegally obtained personal data, trade secrets, and other information are exploited and interpreted by attackers solely for their own selfish purposes.
Information warfare is most often waged by groups seeking to influence the global community and shift situations in their favor. Meanwhile, victims of biased accusations must expend significant effort to prove otherwise. Consequently, information wars lead to financial losses, disruptions in business processes, and other negative consequences. This highlights the importance of individuals and business owners being aware of potential threats and understanding which protective measures to employ in specific cases.
Top Dangers of Information Warfare
During an information war, “strikes” are not delivered physically but through various channels. Attackers aim to “plant” specific material into the consciousness of society, imposing their vision of the situation. This method of achieving objectives makes the attack less noticeable but no less dangerous and destructive. Information warfare manifests in multiple forms.
Social Networks and Opinion Manipulation
Many people spend several hours a day on social networks. The popularity and accessibility of these platforms, combined with the difficulty of tracking content, make social networks an easy and inexpensive way to shape public opinion. They can effortlessly spread disinformation, fake news, or propaganda. The following methods are commonly used to manipulate opinions through social networks:
· Creating fake accounts
· Buying likes, reposts, and comments
· Hacking accounts and exploiting them for malicious purposes
These methods create the illusion of diverse opinions on the same event. Amid a flood of contradictory rumors and interpretations, it becomes difficult for the average user to discern the truth. Meanwhile, the narratives desired by manipulators are subtly embedded into public consciousness.
Fake News And Disinformation
Disinformation is built on a combination of truth, half-truths, and lies. Plausibility and apparent reliability are essential components. However, this is not necessary for fake news. Fake news refers to messages deliberately designed to distort facts.
For example, in 2020, people reported widespread issues with mobile communications. Shortly afterward, the tags “DDoS” and “Anonymous” began trending on Twitter, sparking rumors of an attack by Chinese hackers on the United States. However, the actual cause of the disruption was a technical problem on the telecom operator’s side. The claims of a cyberattack were ultimately disinformation.
Social Engineering And Cyberattacks
Attackers use deceptive techniques to manipulate people into performing actions that can cause harm. Typically, they gather information about their victims from open sources beforehand. This information helps them craft an approach to the target and gain their trust. For example, scammers might impersonate FBI officers and send fraudulent messages.
Defense Tactics and Safeguards
The main target of attackers in information warfare is people. Therefore, efforts to counteract should begin with training yourself in the basics of information security, increasing awareness of potential threats, and understanding the rules for countering various types of attacks.
Verifying Information Accuracy
The countermeasure focuses on preventing the spread of fake news, disinformation, and protecting against manipulation. Verifying reliability involves several stages.
· Evaluating Source Credibility
Each source has a reputation. Before accepting information as fact, ensure the credibility of the portal, newspaper, or other channel where the news is published. Of course, even the most reputable media outlets can contain disinformation. However, this step is primarily aimed at filtering out sources that are clearly untrustworthy.
· Cross-Referencing Data Sources
News can be presented from different perspectives. Therefore, it is important to explore the viewpoints of other authors on the event by comparing information from various sources.
· Using Web Tools to Verify Media Content
This stage will automate the process of checking data for reliability. For example, images can be easily changed using Photoshop and other editors. In this case, you should check if there are any changes in the image using Google search. Quotes and people’s statements are checked in a similar way. You can verify the reliability of the news on websites like Snopes that check the veracity of published data.
Building Strong Critical Thinking Skills
Critical thinking enables you to understand information, distinguish facts from opinions, and question the reliability of sources. This skill allows you to make informed decisions based on thorough analysis.
Essential Skills Behind Critical Thinking:
- Asking questions
- Assessing the relevance, reliability, and accuracy of data
- Formulating and evaluating hypotheses
- Identifying contradictions and distortions of facts
- Assessing risks
- Drawing independent conclusions
You can develop these skills through specialized courses and training programs. However, learning to accurately interpret data takes time and practice—it is not something achieved in a day. Critical thinking is refined through life experience.
Combating Disinformation
The primary rule in combating disinformation is to avoid sharing unverified information. If there is even a slight chance that the news is unreliable, refrain from sharing it. This approach helps reduce the spread, impressions, and visibility of disinformation in search results.
Report Fakes
If you come across a fake on the Internet, you can report it by clicking options like “Report Spam.” Additionally, you can notify the relevant authorities. However, exercise caution and remember that not all fakes are deliberate lies. In many cases, disinformation arises from simple mistakes or human errors.
Counterpropaganda
Counterpropaganda involves comparing disinformation with verified facts to refute false claims and present the public with an objective view of the situation. A simple example is the publication of news or a video that reviews and debunks the claims made in the fake information.
Spreading Accurate Information
This includes creating educational campaigns and fact-checking platforms that ensure the reliability and objectivity of information for the public.
