Cyberwarfare is the employment of cyberattacks against a nation-state that significantly harm it. This damage may range from the failure of life-supporting computer systems to fatalities.
There is substantial disagreement among specialists as to what actions specifically constitute Cyberwarfare. It is unclear why some actions are solely categorized as cybercrime while others are regarded to be Cyberwarfare, despite the US Department of Defense’s (DOD) assertion that doing so poses a threat to national security.
Cyberwarfare has the potential to harm civilian and governmental infrastructure, which could interfere with vital systems and cause harm to the country or casualties. Although cyberattacks carried out by one nation-state against another are often referred to as Cyberwarfare, it is also possible for terrorist or hacker groups to use cyberspace to further their own goals. A virus or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack could be used in Cyberwarfare as an example to harm or compromise the information network of another country.
What are The Goals of Cyberwarfare?
The goal of cyber warfare is to “disrupt, weaken, or destroy” another nation, according to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Cyberwarfare programs aim to accomplish a wide range of aims that can be detrimental to national interests. These dangers include everything from espionage to severe infrastructure disruption and human casualties.
Civil and financial objectives are two more potential drivers of cyber warfare. Threat actors may target internet service providers, telecommunications systems, network hardware, electrical grids, or financial networks to affect civic infrastructure.
The phrases “cyber warfare” and “cyber espionage” (sometimes known as “cyber spying”) are frequently used interchangeably.
The biggest difference is that a Cyberwarfare attack’s major goal is to obstruct a nation-state’s activities, whereas a cyberespionage attack’s main goal is for the attacker to go as long as possible without being noticed in order to gather intelligence. A nation-state may use cyber espionage to gather intelligence to get ready to start a real-world or virtual conflict.
Types of Cyberwarfare Attacks
The likelihood of Cyberwarfare attacks rises as more and more of a nation’s essential services are online. The following are the main categories of Cyberwarfare attacks.
Espionage
Refers to spying on other nations to steal their secrets. In terms of cyber warfare, this can entail compromising delicate computer systems employing spear phishing or botnet operations before leaking sensitive data.
Denial-of-service (DoS) Attacks
DoS attacks force a website to respond to bogus requests and prevent real users from utilizing it. People, personnel of the military forces and security forces, or research organizations may not be able to access sensitive websites or critical operations and systems.
Sabotage
Cyberattacks that affect government computer systems can support efforts at conventional warfare. Digital networks might be compromised, official government communications could be interfered with, valuable intelligence could be stolen, and national security could be put at risk as a result of these attacks.
For instance, attacks sponsored by states or the military may target military databases to collect information on troop movements and the use of weapons and equipment.
The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) keeps track of cyberattacks against government institutions, high-tech, and defense firms, and crimes against the economy resulting in damages of more than $1 million. Hacking and data theft from nation-states is commonplace in the recorded cyber incidents in CSIS timelines dating back to 2006.
Destabilization
Cybercriminals also target vital infrastructure, including dams, power networks, banking systems, water supplies, and hospitals. The implementation of the Internet of Things has made the manufacturing industry more exposed to external threats.
The important digital infrastructure that is destabilized compromises contemporary services or processes that are crucial for national security. A cyberattack on the electricity grid, for instance, might have severe effects on the commercial, industrial, and private sectors.
Propaganda Attacks
Attempts to sway the opinions and beliefs of those who live in or support a target country. The employment of propaganda can be used to expose embarrassing facts, spread untruths to erode public trust in a government or aid one’s enemies.
Surprise Cyberwarfare Attacks
These are today’s versions of the attacks on Nagasaki Hiroshima Attack and Pearl Harbor. A massive onslaught intended to catch the enemy off guard and weaken their defenses is what the strategy aims to accomplish.
Economic Disruption
Most modern economic systems are operated by computers. To steal money or stop people from accessing the money they need, attackers can target the computer networks of commercial institutions including payment systems, banks, and stock exchanges.
Grid of Electrical Power
Attackers can target the electrical grid to bring down crucial systems, damage infrastructure, and possibly result in physical harm. Communication services like text messaging and communications can become unavailable as a result of attacks on the electrical grid.
Read Understanding CyberTerrorism: Methods, Examples, Effects.
Examples of Cyberwarfare Operations
Here are a few recent examples of Cyberwarfare that received a lot of media attention.
Stuxnet Virus
The worm Stuxnet targeted the Iranian nuclear program. It is among the most advanced cyberattacks ever. The malware spread through hacked Universal Serial Bus devices, focusing on data collection and supervisory control systems. Most accounts claim that the attack severely harmed Iran’s capacity to produce nuclear weapons.
Fancy Bear
According to CrowdStrike, the Russian-organized cybercrime group Fancy Bear targeted Ukrainian rocket infantry and artillery between 2014 and 2016. The D-30 Howitzer artillery unit used an infected Android application to manage targeting data, which is how the malware was propagated. Officers in Ukraine frequently used the app, which carried the malware known as X-Agent.
Bronze Soldier
The capital of Estonia, Tallinn, relocated a statue associated with the Soviet Union known as the Bronze Soldier to a nearby military cemetery in 2007. A number of large cyberattacks against Estonia occurred over the ensuing months. Massive denial of service (DoS) attacks caused Estonian banks, media outlets, and government websites to experience traffic congestion, forcing them to fall.
Hack of Sony Pictures
There was an attack on Sony Pictures following the release of “The Interview,” which presented a negative impression of Kim Jong Un. The attack is attributed to North Korean government-affiliated hackers. The FBI discovered malware that was similar to other North Korean malware operations in terms of coding, encryption algorithms, and data deletion procedures.
Enemies of Qatar
An American Republican fundraiser named Elliott Broidy sued the government of Qatar in 2018, alleging that it had stolen and leaked his emails to damage him. According to reports, the Qataris believed that he prevented them from earning more respect in Washington.
According to the lawsuit, the brother of the Qatari Emir and other members of the royal family planned a Cyberwarfare campaign. The same terrorists targeted 1,200 persons, many of whom were well-known “enemies of Qatar,” including top officials from Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Advantages of Cyberwarfare:
Covert and Anonymous Operations
Cyber warfare enables clandestine, anonymous operations, making it challenging for the victim to identify the attacker.
Significant Impact Of Cyberwarfare
Cyberattacks have the potential to harm numerous systems and networks at once, having a significant impact.
Having Access to Private Data
Cyberattacks can give access to sensitive data, including military plans, proprietary company information, and individual user information.
Low Price
When compared to conventional military operations, cyberattacks can be comparatively inexpensive.
The Capacity to Interfere with Crucial Infrastructure
Cyberattacks have the potential to cause significant injury and disruption when they target critical infrastructure, including electrical grid financial networks.
Disadvantages of Cyberwarfare:
Difficult to Attribute
Cyberattacks can be challenging to credit, making it challenging to identify the attack’s origin.
The Absence of An International Legal System
Because there is currently no international legal framework to regulate cyber warfare, it is challenging to hold people or organizations responsible for cyberattacks.
Retaliation
Retaliation from cyberattacks may occur, and it may be challenging to foresee or manage. Cyber strikes may potentially trigger a “cyber arms race” in which nations constantly improve their cyber defense and offensive capabilities.
A Challenge to Defend
As attackers might employ several strategies and tools to avoid detection, cyberattacks can be challenging to protect against.
Collateral Damage
Unintended effects of cyberattacks can include harming innocent people or even physically destroying equipment, as was the case with Stuxnet.
The Potential for Real-world Conflict to Develop
If the targeted nation decides to launch a kinetic strike in response because it considers the cyberattack to be a danger, Cyberwarfare can quickly turn into a real-world conflict.
