The fourth generation of information warfare
The fourth generation of information warfare

Summary/Abstract: Information warfare has developed as a component of hybrid operations and as a type of aggression. The purpose is to project an alternative reality to a designated target population in order to create a perception which could enable it to put pressure on the decision makers and to alter the well assessed, evaluated and planned strategic decision on a very narrow and clear subject or theme. It is done by using a combination of sequences of truth, deprived of their context, lies, innuendo, sophism, and predetermined reflections, secret sources and some pieces of conspiracy theories. So far, we have identified three generations of information warfare: the first one includes disinformation and propaganda operations, troll wars, lobbying, psychological operations, recruiting and conditioning; the second one uses the so-called sociological groups objectivized in the virtual space; the third generation is that of micro-targeting at the level of the entire groups of the population, Cambridge Analytica type of access. As a result of this, we have reached between 82-95% probability of impact using big data and high number of targets. The fourth generation makes the jump to targeting the differences, meaning personalities, highly educated targets, high value targets, targets which are protected due to their jobs and level of influence, who cannot be reached or influenced at a statistic level of impact.For these complex components, news methods are involved in obtaining the same result. Offensive and defensive weapons are put in place, tailored attacks are planned, and individual instruments used for each of the high value difficult to reach target. Character assassination, labelling, change or doubling the identity, individual programs that exploit weaknesses and obtain a “genuine response” which meets the goal of projecting the alternative needed reality and “convincing” the unbeliever on a certain needed interpretation, idea or reality, are put in place. Our work presents some of those instruments that do not use criminal approaches like bribery, blackmail or forced decisions of any kind, and instead focus on informational instruments and “the genuine conviction of the subject”.

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