The Weaponization of Social Media: Spear Phishing and Cyberattacks on Democracy
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The Weaponization of Social Media : Spear Phishing and Cyberattacks on Democracy. / Bossetta, Michael.
I: Journal of International Affairs, Bind 2018 Special Issue, vol. 71, Nr. 2, 6, 2018, s. 97-106.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - The Weaponization of Social Media
T2 - Spear Phishing and Cyberattacks on Democracy
AU - Bossetta, Michael
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - State-sponsored cyber groups have long utilized spear phishing to pierce government networks. Spear phishing relies on social engineering to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information or downloading malicious software, rather than hacking into a system vulnerability by force. While email remains the preferred medium to conduct spear-phishing attacks, social media has opened up new attack vectors for politically motivated cyberattacks.Social media platforms, as high-trust environments typically accessed from a mobile device for personal entertainment or networking, are highly conducive waters for spear phishing. Moreover, the wealth of public information availableon social media can be exploited by threat actors to devise sophisticated (and automated) spear phishing campaigns that target government and military personnel. This study examines how illiberal regimes are weaponizing socialmedia to conduct spear phishing and cyber espionage against Western governments.A theoretical model of spear phishing on social media is proposed and supported by recent empirical examples from the European Union and United States.
AB - State-sponsored cyber groups have long utilized spear phishing to pierce government networks. Spear phishing relies on social engineering to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information or downloading malicious software, rather than hacking into a system vulnerability by force. While email remains the preferred medium to conduct spear-phishing attacks, social media has opened up new attack vectors for politically motivated cyberattacks.Social media platforms, as high-trust environments typically accessed from a mobile device for personal entertainment or networking, are highly conducive waters for spear phishing. Moreover, the wealth of public information availableon social media can be exploited by threat actors to devise sophisticated (and automated) spear phishing campaigns that target government and military personnel. This study examines how illiberal regimes are weaponizing socialmedia to conduct spear phishing and cyber espionage against Western governments.A theoretical model of spear phishing on social media is proposed and supported by recent empirical examples from the European Union and United States.
UR - https://jia.sipa.columbia.edu/weaponization-social-media-spear-phishing-and-cyberattacks-democracy
M3 - Journal article
VL - 2018 Special Issue, vol. 71
SP - 97
EP - 106
JO - Journal of International Affairs
JF - Journal of International Affairs
SN - 0022-197X
IS - 2
M1 - 6
ER -
ID: 203466367