Cyber-Enabled Unconventional Warfare: The Convergence of Cyberspace, Social Mobilization, and Special Warfare

Abstract

The United States currently faces an environment of constrained resources and increasing threats where new foreign policy options need to be considered. An area that holds the potential for low-profile campaigns to confront enemies of the United States is cyber-enabled unconventional warfare (UW). Conducting military operations through cyber-enabled UW is less expensive, and inherently, it involves less physical risk than a conventional deployment of U.S. military personnel abroad. This research indicates that seven conditions exist in the cyberspace environment that can enhance the conduct of UW. Since no organization in the U.S. military with the requisite capabilities to exploit these conditions in the cyber domain exists, one should be created. Cyber-enabled UW can provide scalable military options to U.S. policymakers that are currently not available.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2015
Accession Number
ADA632272

Entities

People

  • Ryan S. Gladding
  • Sean P. Mcquade

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Combat Areas
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Cyber Warfare
  • Cyberattacks
  • Cyberspace
  • Cyberspace Operations
  • Employment
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Hybrid Warfare
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Recreation
  • Social Media
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Cyber
  • Cyber - Legality in Cyberspace