Waging information war

The aim of information warfare is to substitute precise and discriminate credible information – whether by the methods of deception or information attack – to a target decision maker in order that they position themselves, by their own decision, in a position of strategic disadvantage.

Information warfare is not so much about perception management as orientation management. Information is both the target and the weapon: the weapon effect is predictable error.

Information warfare is about destroying information, reducing information flows, reducing the reliability of information content, and denying access to services.

Information warfare is the offensive and defensive use of information and information systems to deny, exploit, corrupt, or destroy, an adversary's information, information-based processes, information systems, and computer-based networks while protecting one's own. Such actions are designed to achieve advantages over military or business adversaries.

Information warfare is defined as "actions taken to achieve relatively greater understanding of the strengths, weaknesses, and centers of gravity of an adversary's military, political, social, and economic infrastructure in order to deny, exploit, influence, corrupt, or destroy those adversary information-based activities thorough command and control warfare and information attack."

Information warfare is waged against industries, political spheres of influence, global economic forces, or even against entire countries. It is the use of technology against technology; it is about secrets and the theft of secrets; it is about turning information against its owners; it is about denying an enemy the ability to use both his technology and his information (Winn Schwartau).

1. Conflicts will revolve less around the use of raw power than of "soft power" as applied through "information operations" and "perception management" – that is, media-oriented measures that aim to attract rather than coerce and that affect how secure a society, a military, or other actor feels about its knowledge of itself and its adversaries. Psychosocial disruption may become more important than physical destruction.

2. Robert Steele argues that information warfare is "about applied intellect – it is about harnessing intellect and protecting intellect, and it is above all about providing the commander – including the civil commander in the role of political, economic, or cultural leader – with survivable, reliable, decision-support through war and operations other than war, on the home front as well as on the traditional front line – and to do so largely with 'out of control' civil resources."

3. One cannot harness the distributed intelligence of a nation if the information content is diverted or destroyed.

4. Historical patterns reveal that information warfare is undoubtedly the warfare of the future.

1. Using public information
2. Using information technology
3. Using information systems
4. Producing information

1. Using the internet for netwar
2. Using selective information
3. Suppressing information
4. Shaping local information flow
5. Promulgating disinformation
6. Manipulating public information
7. Intercepting communications
8. Giving false information
9. Disempowering with information
10. Controlling information technology
11. Exploiting information networks

1. Using information to support democracy
2. Providing know-how for international business
3. Incorporating security features in internet system design
4. Displacing manpower with information technology
5. Developing knowledge economy
6. Covering up human rights abuses

1. Using tactical information
2. Using available information outlets
3. Suppressing information by security classification
4. Monitoring securities and commodities exchange
5. Limiting information availability
6. Limiting freedom of information
7. Limiting availability of public information
8. Limiting access to information
9. Improving economic market intelligence
10. Globalizing information flow
11. Exchanging military information
12. Evaluating information
13. Establishing information exchange between securities markets
14. Establishing comprehensive information structures
15. Distorting official news and information
16. Disseminating information
17. Developing telecommunications networks
18. Controlling use of computer data
19. Constructing integrated information system
20. Concealing environmental information
21. Collecting data
22. Classifying information
23. Appropriating information

1. Providing accurate civic information
2. Promoting international freedom of information
3. Informing about security and conflict
4. Informing about human rights issues
5. Guaranteeing reporting rights of media
6. Enhancing global security through communication
7. Developing national information systems
8. Building dependable mass communication

1. Safeguarding telecommunications security
2. Revealing information
3. Requiring relevance in information acquisition
4. Reducing amount of propaganda
5. Preventing media censorship
6. Increasing accountability of management of public information

1. Promoting appropriate national information policies
2. Managing information

1. Cognitive warfare