"Warfare" can be broadly defined as "the waging of armed conflict against an enemy." In this module we will consider what warfare means in the context of today's information systems and networks. We will see that the fundamental principles of warfare known for thousands of years are still relevant on today's new battleground. | Information Warfare Security Essentials The SANS Institute Information Assurance Foundations - SANS 2001 1 Warfare can be broadly defined as the waging of armed conflict against an enemy. In this module we will consider what warfare means in the context of today s information systems and networks. We will see that the fundamental principles of warfare known for thousands of years are still relevant on today s new battleground. 5 - 1 Agenda What is Information Warfare Why is it Important Offensive Tactics Introduction to Network Attacks Defensive Tactics Information Warfare -SANS 2001 2 After introducing the concept of information warfare we will be concentrating on warfare principles and strategies. We will discuss both offensive and defensive tactics both theory and practice. As a concrete example of offensive tactics a quick introduction to TCP IP network attacks is provided. 5 -2 What is Information Warfare Information warfare is the offensive and defensive use of information and information systems to deny exploit corrupt or destroy an adversary s information information-based processes information systems and computer-based networks while protecting one s own. Such actions are designed to achieve advantages over military or business adversaries. Dr. Ivan Goldberg Information Warfare -SANS 2001 3 We start our discussion with a definition of information warfare. The definition above simply maps our intuitive definition of warfare subvert the enemy while protecting ourselves into the realm of computers and networks. This definition has been provided by Dr. Ivan Goldberg who leads the Institute for the Advanced Study of Information Warfare . The institute s website has a number of white papers and reports on information warfare topics. http iwar. 1 .html Eric Hrovat provides some interesting perspectives on information warfare in his paper Information Warfare The Unconventional Art in a Digital World published by SANS http infowar .
