Cybersecurity Issues

Report

The Emerging Risk of Virtual Societal Warfare

Living in an information society opens unprecedented opportunities for hostile rivals to cause disruption, delay, inefficiency, and active harm. Social manipulation techniques are evolving beyond disinformation and cyberattacks on infrastructure sites. How can democracies protect themselves?

Commentary

What Translation Troubles Can Tell Us About Russian Information Warfare

Moscow's form of information warfare targeting the West has attracted significant international attention since 2014, especially through its reinvigorated military intelligence branch. Nonetheless, little research has focused on these campaigns' apparent shortcomings. Most notable among operational errors are the confusing translation mistakes that undermine attempts at covert influence efforts.

Report

Are States Using Cyber Operations to Coerce Others?

Cyber operations have become another tool of statecraft. But have any cyber operations sponsored by Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea met the definition of cyber coercion? If so, how? And what should the United States do to respond?

Report

'Hostile Social Manipulation' Is a Growing Threat to the United States

Hostile social manipulation includes social media campaigns, sophisticated forgeries, and spreading rumors and conspiracy theories. As these techniques are used by Russia and China, Washington should invest more resources to understand and counter them.

Report

What Correctional Institutions Need to Address Security Challenges

Some threats to the security of correctional institutions, such as violence, escape attempts, and contraband, are as old as the institutions themselves. But as society and technology evolve, new threats are emerging, including hacking, synthetic drugs, and drones.

Approaches to Counter Russian Social Media Influence

How can policymakers combat the threat of Russian social media influence? Elizabeth Bodine-Baron will discuss different approaches and policy options to respond to Russian influence via disinformation spread on social media in the United States. [Washington, D.C.]

Protecting Consumer Data: Considerations for Congress

Many of the laws that govern data privacy were developed before the widespread adoption of online communications and social media accounts. Should consumers be in charge of self-regulating what they share and how companies use it? Rebecca Balebako and John Davis will discuss policy opportunities for better protecting consumer data. [Washington, D.C.]

Equifax and the Data-Breach Era: How Worried Should We Be?

Large-scale data breaches have compromised the identifying information of millions of people. What can policymakers do to improve responses to such breaches, and how can the public protect information that has already been compromised? Lilian Ablon and Sina Beaghley answer these questions and more in a RAND Congressional Briefing.

RAND Cybersecurity Workshop

In this cybersecurity workshop, legislative staffers can learn how to calculate cyber risk; where to find appropriate information about threats, vulnerabilities, and impact; and better consider options for legislation and federal government response in cyberspace. [Washington, DC]

What Is America's Role in the World?

One Night with RAND brought together leaders in business, philanthropy, government, academia, and media for a discussion about the international strategic choices that will shape the U.S. role in the world for years to come.