Dr. Mohammed Rahma
Computer & Cybersecurity Engineering (College of Engineering - Al-Mustaqbal University).
With the rapid advancement of technology and communications, cyber warfare has emerged as one of the most serious threats to national and economic security. Modern cyber warfare is no longer limited to technical attacks and system intrusions—it has taken a more dangerous and subtle form: social engineering, the art of manipulating people to gain access to information or systems. Today, social engineering serves as a strategic tool in cyber warfare, used by states and cyber groups to achieve political, military, and economic objectives—all without firing a single shot.
What Is Social Engineering?
Social engineering is the psychological manipulation of individuals to extract confidential information or convince them to perform actions that benefit the attacker—such as clicking malicious links or revealing passwords. It relies more on trust, deception, and persuasion than on technical hacking tools.
Social Engineering in the Context of Cyber Warfare
Modern cyber warfare spans multiple domains, not limited to government institutions but extending to individuals and private companies. Social engineering becomes vital here, as it targets the human element, often the weakest link in any security system.
Key forms of social engineering used in cyber warfare include:
Phishing: Fake messages that impersonate official or trusted sources to trick users.
Pretexting: Crafting a false identity or story to obtain sensitive data.
Exploiting crises: Taking advantage of pandemics, wars, or disasters to spread fake news or solicit unauthorized support.
Disinformation campaigns: Spreading rumors or false narratives to manipulate public opinion and destabilize societies.
Real-World Examples
Election interference: In several countries, social engineering was used to influence voters or access electoral databases, impacting results or undermining trust in the system.
Stuxnet attack: While technically sophisticated, initial access was achieved through human error by inserting infected USBs—an outcome of social engineering.
Conflict: Social media was used extensively to spread disinformation and influence public sentiment both domestically and internationally.
Why Is It a Strategic Tool?
Difficult to detect: It operates through deception rather than direct attacks.
Low-cost: Requires fewer resources than conventional weapons or advanced hacking.
Deep and lasting impact: Can affect infrastructure and public morale, causing internal crises.
Flexible execution: Can be deployed remotely, over time, and using various methods.
Supports political and media objectives: Often falls outside the scope of international law, making attribution difficult.
Countermeasures and Response Strategies
Security awareness training: Educating users about the risks of social engineering.
Internal phishing simulations: Testing employee responses to mimic real-world attacks.
Behavioral analytics: Monitoring for suspicious user activity within systems.
Integrating cybersecurity into national policies.
Conclusion
Social engineering represents a significant challenge in modern cyber warfare. As a silent but effective weapon, it exploits human behavior to infiltrate systems and institutions. The greatest threat lies in its ability to bypass technical defenses through manipulation. Therefore, combating social engineering requires a comprehensive approach, involving governments, organizations, and individuals working together to strengthen cyber awareness and resilience.
Al-Mustaqbal University, the first university in Iraq