Page 29 - Cyber Defense eMagazine September 2022

Information Warfare and What Infosec Needs to Know

By Wasim Khaled, Co-Founder and CEO, Blackbird.AI

Cyberthreats are growing more sophisticated by the day, which in terms means cyber is at the top of
every CIOs list. Known as Information Warfare (IW), it is the evolution of cybersecurity which now includes
misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information (MDM). It is an imminent cybersecurity threat and
the cost of being unable to detect and shut down known and unknown threats can cost large organizations
potentially millions of dollars. These risks are driven by a new breed of threat actors who exploit digital
media to harm organizations, employees, and executives. In this new risk landscape, Information Warfare
attacks may come in parallel with traditional cyberattacks which can further amplify the situation.
Platforms that provide a real-time solution to detect and quickly shut down threats are a necessary first
step to aid in the defense of every company, corporation, and brand.

The Problem

Disinformation is scary because it’s the umbrella threat that amplifies the danger of all other systemic
and existential threats. Digital actors can influence and manipulate buying and selling behaviors online,
amplifying volatility with incredible speed. A study done by Nature reviews says, “Today, misinformation
campaigns can leverage the online infrastructure that is unparalleled in its reach. The internet reaches

Cyber Defense eMagazine – September 2022 Edition 29
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