Weaponizing Disinformation Against Critical Infrastructures

TL;DR

This paper examines how disinformation campaigns are weaponized to target critical infrastructures, analyzing case studies and criminal profiles to inform mitigation strategies for safeguarding essential systems.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive analysis of disinformation as a malicious tool against critical infrastructure, including case studies and criminological insights.

Findings

Disinformation can effectively disrupt critical systems.

Criminal profiles reveal diverse motivations and methods.

Mitigation requires technical and legal strategies.

Abstract

For nearly a decade, disinformation has dominated social debates, with its harmful impacts growing more evident. Episodes like the January 6 United States Capitol attack and the Rohingya genocide exemplify how this phenomenon has been weaponized. While considerable attention has been paid to its impact on societal discourse and minority persecution, there remains a gap in analyzing its role as a malicious hybrid tool targeting critical infrastructures. This article addresses this gap by presenting three case studies: a hypothetical scenario involving the electric grid, an attack on traffic management, and XZ Utils backdoor. Additionally, the study undertakes a criminological analysis to comprehend the criminal profiles driving such attacks, while also assessing their implications from a human rights perspective. The research findings highlight the necessity for comprehensive mitigation strategies encompassing technical solutions and crime prevention measures in order to safeguard critical infrastructures against these emerging threats.