Sorry: Ambient Tactical Deception Via Malware-Based Social Engineering

TL;DR

This paper introduces Ambient Tactical Deception (ATD), a software-based manipulation technique that subtly alters online text to influence perceptions and emotions, raising cybersecurity and social psychology concerns.

Contribution

It conceptualizes ATD as an unobtrusive, browser-based deception method capable of changing online sentiment and perception, highlighting new risks in digital communication.

Findings

ATD can alter text sentiment in web browsers

Potential to influence opinions on elections, relationships, and organizations

Raises awareness of subtle online manipulation techniques

Abstract

In this paper we argue, drawing from the perspectives of cybersecurity and social psychology, that Internet-based manipulation of an individual or group reality using ambient tactical deception is possible using only software and changing words in a web browser. We call this attack Ambient Tactical Deception (ATD). Ambient, in artificial intelligence, describes software that is "unobtrusive," and completely integrated into a user's life. Tactical deception is an information warfare term for the use of deception on an opposing force. We suggest that an ATD attack could change the sentiment of text in a web browser. This could alter the victim's perception of reality by providing disinformation. Within the limit of online communication, even a pause in replying to a text can affect how people perceive each other. The outcomes of an ATD attack could include alienation, upsetting a victim, and influencing their feelings about an election, a spouse, or a corporation.