Information warfare

Extracted Attributes

• Field

  Military Science and Informatics

• Distinction

  Targets information trust rather than technical systems (Cyberwarfare)

• Key Tactics

  Propaganda, Disinformation, Intelligence gathering, Denial of information

• Primary Objective

  Competitive advantage through decision manipulation

• Training Facility

  Information Warfare Training Command San Diego, California, United States

Timeline

• Dale Minor publishes 'The Information War', a book detailing propaganda and news manipulation during the Vietnam War era. (Source: undefined)

  1970-01-01

• Thomas P. Rona, a Boeing engineer, defines 'information war' as a military capability in a monograph for the Office of Net Assessment. (Source: undefined)

  1976-01-01

• Anti-regime protests begin in Iran, eventually serving as a modern case study for information warfare and the use of Starlink to counter state censorship. (Source: undefined)

  2022-09-16

Information warfare

Information warfare (IW) is the battlespace use and management of information and communication technology (ICT) in pursuit of a competitive advantage over an opponent. It is different from cyberwarfare that attacks computers, software, and command control systems. Information warfare is the manipulation of information trusted by a target without the target's awareness so that the target will make decisions against their interest but in the interest of the one conducting information warfare. As a result, it is not clear when information warfare begins, ends, and how strong or destructive it is. Information warfare may involve the collection of tactical information, assurance(s) that one's information is valid, spreading of propaganda or disinformation to demoralize or manipulate the enemy and the public, undermining the quality of the opposing force's information, and denial of information-collection opportunities to opposing forces. Information warfare is closely linked to psychological warfare.

Web Search Results

• Information warfare - Wikipedia

  Information warfare (IW) is the battlespace use and management of information and communication technology (ICT) in pursuit of a competitive advantage over an opponent. It is different from cyberwarfare that attacks computers, software, and command control systems. Information warfare is the manipulation of information trusted by a target without the target's awareness so that the target will make decisions against their interest but in the interest of the one conducting information warfare. As a result, it is not clear when information warfare begins, ends, and how strong or destructive it is. [...] ## Overview [edit] Information warfare has been described as "the use of information to achieve our national objectives." According to NATO, "Information war is an operation conducted in order to gain an information advantage over the opponent." The term has existed at least since 1970, when Dale Minor, a reporter, published The Information War a book about propaganda and news manipulation during the Vietnam War era., although its current usage as a military capability dates from 1976, when Thomas P. Rona, than a Boeing Company engineer, referred to "information war" in a company monograph prepared for the Office of Net Assessment. Information warfare can take many forms: [...] Information warfare may involve the collection of tactical information, assurance(s) that one's information is valid, spreading of propaganda or disinformation to demoralize "Demoralization (warfare)") or manipulate the enemy and the public, undermining the quality of the opposing force's information, and denial of information-collection opportunities to opposing forces. Information warfare is closely linked to psychological warfare. ## Overview [edit]

• Strategic Information Warfare: A New Face of War - RAND

  ## Information Warfare and the Changing Face of War Information warfare (IW) represents a rapidly evolving and, as yet, imprecisely defined field of growing interest for defense planners and policymakers. The source of both the interest and the imprecision in this field is the so-called information revolution—led by the ongoing rapid evolution of cyberspace, microcomputers, and associated information technologies. The U.S. defense establishment, like U.S. society as a whole, is moving rapidly to take advantage of the new opportunities presented by these changes. At the same time, current and potential U.S. adversaries (and allies) are also looking to exploit the evolving global information infrastructure and associated technologies for military purposes.

• types of information warfare and examples of malicious ...

  ORCID iD: FIELD: Informatics ARTICLE TYPE: Professional Papers ARTICLE LANGUAGE: English Abstract: The possibilities of the information management system are unimaginable. "Information warfare" (IW), defined as a targeted effort to undermine and neutralize hostile command and control systems for the purpose of protecting and coordinating the activities of command and control systems of friendly forces, is a frequently used term. Most of modern political and military systems of command and control are based on high speeds of computer-based communication. Hence, the information infrastructure is the "infomercial" arena in which information warfare is conducted. Every system or a person that forms part of this sphere is a potential target in IW. The form of information warfare is the way [...] "information warfare" (IW) is often mentioned. It is sometimes even regarded as a future cornerstone of the future military doctrines of some countries, even of those most developed ones. 1045 Damjanović, D., Types of information warfare and examples of malicious programs of information warfare, pp.1044-1059 Information warfare has enormous political, technical, operational, and legal implications for the military. Therefore, here we will try to define IW, identify potential military uses and applications, as well as the problems that are responsible for the implementation of this new doctrine. What is information warfare? Information Warfare (IW) is a targeted effort to undercut and neutralize the enemy's command and control system for the purpose of protecting and coordinating the [...] system for the purpose of protecting and coordinating the activities of the command and control system of friendly forces (Blair, 2001). Information warfare may include (Reisman & Antoniou, 1994): – collecting tactical information, – checking the accuracy of information, – spreading propaganda and disinformation to demoralize or manipulate the opponent and the public, – undermining the quality of opponent information, – denying the opponent the opportunity to collect information. Some governments spend billions of dollars to establish agencies that will collect and store information about potential threats to their security. Information is a strategic advantage (Campen, 2002). This is a fact first understood by computer hackers, many of whom are currently serving long-term prison

• Information Governance as an Information Warfare Countermeasure

  Information warfare encompasses a wide range of activities aimed at influencing or disrupting the information environment. It includes tactics such as spreading misinformation and disinformation, manipulating public opinion, conducting cyberattacks, and stealing sensitive data. The targets of information warfare can include governments, businesses, individuals, and even entire societies. Information warfare is often used to achieve political, economic, or military objectives, but it can also be employed to sow discord, destabilize societies, or undermine trust in institutions. ### The Rise of Misinformation, Disinformation, and Propaganda

• Chapter 7: Information Warfare

  ## Tactical-Level INFOWAR The OPFOR defines information warfare as specifically planned and integrated actions taken to achieve an information advantage at critical points and times. The primary goals of INFOWAR are to— Influence an enemy’s decisionmaking through his collected and available information, information systems, and information-based processes. Retain the ability to employ friendly information and information-based processes and systems. [...] The OPFOR is constantly increasing the levels of technology used in its communications, automation, reconnaissance, and target acquisition systems. In order to ensure the successful use of information technologies and to deny the enemy the advantage afforded by such systems, the OPFOR has continued to refine its doctrine and capabilities for information warfare (INFOWAR). The OPFOR knows it cannot maintain continuous information dominance, particularly against peer or more powerful opponents. Therefore, it selects for disruption only those targets most critical to ensuring the successful achievement of its objectives. It attempts to gain an information advantage only at critical times and places on the battlefield. This chapter focuses on INFOWAR activities at the tactical level. [...] The OPFOR is constantly increasing the levels of technology used in its communications, automation, reconnaissance, and target acquisition systems. In order to ensure the successful use of information technologies and to deny the enemy the advantage afforded by such systems, the OPFOR has continued to refine its doctrine and capabilities for information warfare (INFOWAR). The OPFOR knows it cannot maintain continuous information dominance, particularly against peer or more powerful opponents. Therefore, it selects for disruption only those targets most critical to ensuring the successful achievement of its objectives. It attempts to gain an information advantage only at critical times and places on the battlefield. This chapter focuses on INFOWAR activities at the tactical level.