Recent horrific attacks in Paris caused me to reconsider information security issues and power of data analysis (see my post on a similar topic: http://wp.me/p6NSob-2O). I was pleasantly surprised when opened my Facebook and saw the notification, saying my friends were safe, although being in the close proximity to the points of attacks.
“Cool, but what if someone hacks Facebook/Twitter to use it for committing an act of terror?”, I thought. What will be the consequences if it happens on the global scale?
In the light of Russian invasion into the Eastern part of Ukraine, where I come from, it is possible to state that consequences of disinformation might have paralyzing effect.
Just to give a flavor of how powerful social media are nowadays: last year’s crash of MH17 board in the Donetsk region was promoted on the Internet (mainly Twitter and VK) as a shot of Ukrainian jet. The initial goal was to make a psychological pressure, both on government and people. However, after the attackers understood what actually happened (it took them 15 min. to understand), posted news were deleted right away from everywhere and all the channels used by them were flooded with the variety of versions, e.g. saying the plane was hit by Ukrainian jet flying after the civil board.
Another example might be messages, sent to soldiers who are in the area of fierce fights. Such information attacks set the aim of wreaking panic and disorienting the target.
Basing on the fact that ISIS and other terrorists are heavily present on the Internet and own high profile computer experts, I question myself if they might use social medias in their consequent attacks and what should be done to mitigate ones.
It was another example of how data can turn from the tool serving the common well into the weapon.
Keep calm and remember about protection, not only in the real life but in the virtual one as well, especially when the boundaries get more blurred!
Interesting. I get your point but I have two questions related to the Facebook app you pointed out earlier.
A. How do you think hacking the app on Facebook that lets people know that mark people safe would evoke panic in general public? As far as I understand you can either mark as safe or you don’t. There is no way of marking yourself for instance dead. So how will people conclude that the situation is much worse than it is in reality?
B.Facebook is huge. They probably have a humongous security team working on securing the data 24/7/365. In favour of its users or not is another story but either way they will be monitoring it. Let’s assume that somebody did hack into Facebook which is not impossible. I might be wrong but my point is, they are going to get know about the attack less than a few hours. So now unless Facebook is actually working with the terrorists, it would at least send out an intimation of its compromise to the general public. Also I’m not too sure if there is a way to view how many people have been marked safe in the app, is there?
Moreover, I believe hacking into smaller apps will not have the expected impact as the media would rely on information coming from the hospitals and police force rather than a few apps that show a huge loss that does not correspond with the information on the media.
But I agree that your argument is completely valid.
True story!! I definitely agree that Social media may be used as a weapon of mass distraction. However I m not sure one has to hack an account to conduct act of terror. Plenty of different ways, mostly using event (number of people going to an event or going to be in certain area) – it’s enough for planning 🙁
How do you think hacking the app on Facebook that lets people know that their friends and family are safe would evoke panic in general public?*
Even a simple message that you’re in the zone of threat (e.g. terror attack) will make you nervous. It does not have to be Facebook alone. Combining those tools for instance… Twitter + Facebook (E.g. Facebook: you’re in the conflict zone; Twitter: go to the certain place, there is police and other people for instance. It might sound fantastic and stupid but I still believe it is possible area of attack)
I mean, if you get a message on FB that you’re in a certain “zone” of attack. You’ll definitely start worrying, making worse weighted decisions. And then it might use as a part of a scenario