The term hybrid is used to explain or describe a wide range of measures, tools and techniques that include disinformation, cyber attacks, manipulation of the international law, espionage, sabotage, political subversion, and even economic pressure or energy dependence.
NATO defines hybrid threats as “a form of threat that combines conventional and unconventional activities at a specific time and on a specific location.”
Cybersecurity specialists are more loudly pointing to the great danger of hybrid threats, which, with the help of modern technology, create conflicting situations that contribute to the shattering of the capacities of certain governments or significant individuals, and in the direction of making important decisions.
Hybrid attacks use manipulations in order to exert a certain influence. The purpose of hybrid attacks is to influence the public or the processes that are important for making key decisions. In this regard, the main focus of hybrid attacks can be leaders, public figures, media, and religious groups or citizens associations. The creators of hybrid attacks seek to influence the credibility and integrity of individuals or groups that are important in the processes of decision making.
Communication is very important in terms of hybrid threats. Information security is the key factor to which particular attention needs to be paid.
Reports of hybrid attacks almost always include Russian propaganda, the Kremlin trolling factory, which through various activities and fake or hidden identities try to influence the public opinion in favor of the Russian policies. Most of the analyzes point out the Russian Internet Research Agency, which is often referred to as the core of the secret Russian organization that is in charge of manipulating the public in favor of the Kremlin policy.
The data suggests that Russia is constantly scanning the public and its perceptions in order to discover the points where it can attack. In April 2018, as part of the action against the Russian propaganda, numerous profiles and pages related to this so-called troll factory were deleted. Research reveals that most of the Internet research agency’s employees are young people.
Many media have explored the potential dangers of hybrid attacks on the Kremlin. The most frequent focus is NATO, that is, the prevention of NATO’s activities. In October 2017, Wall Street Journal wrote that the goal of the Russian Internet Research Agency was the cell phones of the soldiers.
Many countries have been victims of hybrid attacks. In 2007, Estonia was attacked through a series of cyber operations. And Georgia was a witness to a cyber attack. In Egypt, politicians and religious people were targets to hybrid threats. In Sweden, disinformation about Sputnik, as part of the hybrid attack targeted the media.
Hybrid attacks use modern information technology like smartphones and social networks in the direction of creating large groups that will be used to support the destruction or weakening of the state, industrial, financial, or military networks and targets. Hybrid threats and attacks can cause weakening of states, but also creating conflicts.
FINANCED BY
This project was funded in part through a U.S. Embassy grant. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed herein are those of the implementers/authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Government.
PARTNERS
