16
1 Information Weapon: Concepts, Means, Methods …
1.2.4 Classification of Information Weapons
Hardware Trojans (backdoors) constitute the main subject of this book’s research.
They are found in microcircuits used for commercial, industrial, space, and special
(military, nuclear, underwater, aircraft, etc.) purposes. In fact, software and hardware
Trojans represent the technological base of information weapons.
It is not much of an exaggeration to say that the first simple hardware Trojans
appeared together with the chips themselves.
The well-established common name of this modern technical invention is based
on the famous story of the wooden Trojan Horse. According to the legend (in modern
terms, according to the technical specifications approved by the customer), it was
introduced into the enemy’s camp. In the dead of night, the armed people climbed
out of the Horse (activated) and annihilated the enemy’s manpower and all the fortifications of the city (the target object). Figuratively speaking, today the role of the
wooden horse is performed by the microcircuit with hardware Trojans instead of
ancient warriors.
In fact, there is still no well-established generally accepted terminology and classification in the field of information weapons due to secrecy, problems of national
security, issues of “big business,” etc.
In English language publications, many works focus on various aspects of the
issue of information weapons. Here is a list of the most cited ones:
– Richard A. Poisel “Information Warfare and Electronic Warfare Systems”, Artech
House, 2013, 414 p.
– Antonimos A. Tsirigotis “Cybernetics, Warfare and Discourse: The Cybernetisation of Warfare in Britain”, Palgrave Macmillan, 2017.
– Clay Wilson “Information Operadions, Electronic Warfare, and Cyberwar: Capabilities and Related Policy Issues”, CRS Report for Congress. Order Code RL
31787, March 20, 2007.
The essence of the problem is captured by the definitions and classifications set
forth in the publicly available guidelines of the US armed forces in the field of information warfare [1, 6], dividing the modern information (cybernetic) weapons into
two large groups: information-psychological and information technology weapons.
The main objects of the first type of information weapons (cyberweapons) are
people, the second—technology (software and hardware).
As it is known from a number of open sources, in the USA, China, Russia, and
NATO countries various concepts of wars of the XXII century are actively developed,
where cyberweapons (information weapons—IW) play a fundamental role.
Here, IW refer to the use of tools specially developed in institutes and laboratories with restricted access, followed by certain changes in information and social
systems. In accordance with this concept, it is planned to use IW at three levels
simultaneously: strategic, tactical, and operational. The main objects of its impact
are primarily information technology systems (information switching, telecommunication, etc.), social systems, groups of individuals, and even private persons (group
1 Information Weapon: Concepts, Means, Methods …
1.2.4 Classification of Information Weapons
Hardware Trojans (backdoors) constitute the main subject of this book’s research.
They are found in microcircuits used for commercial, industrial, space, and special
(military, nuclear, underwater, aircraft, etc.) purposes. In fact, software and hardware
Trojans represent the technological base of information weapons.
It is not much of an exaggeration to say that the first simple hardware Trojans
appeared together with the chips themselves.
The well-established common name of this modern technical invention is based
on the famous story of the wooden Trojan Horse. According to the legend (in modern
terms, according to the technical specifications approved by the customer), it was
introduced into the enemy’s camp. In the dead of night, the armed people climbed
out of the Horse (activated) and annihilated the enemy’s manpower and all the fortifications of the city (the target object). Figuratively speaking, today the role of the
wooden horse is performed by the microcircuit with hardware Trojans instead of
ancient warriors.
In fact, there is still no well-established generally accepted terminology and classification in the field of information weapons due to secrecy, problems of national
security, issues of “big business,” etc.
In English language publications, many works focus on various aspects of the
issue of information weapons. Here is a list of the most cited ones:
– Richard A. Poisel “Information Warfare and Electronic Warfare Systems”, Artech
House, 2013, 414 p.
– Antonimos A. Tsirigotis “Cybernetics, Warfare and Discourse: The Cybernetisation of Warfare in Britain”, Palgrave Macmillan, 2017.
– Clay Wilson “Information Operadions, Electronic Warfare, and Cyberwar: Capabilities and Related Policy Issues”, CRS Report for Congress. Order Code RL
31787, March 20, 2007.
The essence of the problem is captured by the definitions and classifications set
forth in the publicly available guidelines of the US armed forces in the field of information warfare [1, 6], dividing the modern information (cybernetic) weapons into
two large groups: information-psychological and information technology weapons.
The main objects of the first type of information weapons (cyberweapons) are
people, the second—technology (software and hardware).
As it is known from a number of open sources, in the USA, China, Russia, and
NATO countries various concepts of wars of the XXII century are actively developed,
where cyberweapons (information weapons—IW) play a fundamental role.
Here, IW refer to the use of tools specially developed in institutes and laboratories with restricted access, followed by certain changes in information and social
systems. In accordance with this concept, it is planned to use IW at three levels
simultaneously: strategic, tactical, and operational. The main objects of its impact
are primarily information technology systems (information switching, telecommunication, etc.), social systems, groups of individuals, and even private persons (group