Cyber Warfare And Mobile Security Assignment Sample

Cyber Warfare sample examines mobile vulnerabilities, firmware analysis (Binwalk), netstat monitoring, 5G cybersecurity, Tor dark web, cyber terrorism ethics, espionage in automotive, and national resilience against interventions.

  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Type Assignment
  • Downloads543
  • Pages30
  • Words7547

Activity 9.1: Security Threats to Mobile Devices

Technological advancement, especially on the mobile devices, has brought about new vulnerabilities that pose a threat to mobile users as well as companies. Smart phones, tablets, laptops, etc are used in accessing business networks, banking services, personal information storage and hence make the best targets for the hackers. Among those that have been identified, data leakage is the one that poses the biggest risk following the fact that users agree to grant more permissions than needed to their applications. Most of the free application require the user to grant them permission to use contact, camera, and location services. Many of the users do not even think twice before granting such permission not knowing the possible consequences that could occur to the data. Some of these applications may send personal or corporate information to other people for advertising or for other purposes such as stealing identity, embezzlement of funds, or sabotaging a company (Cinar and Kara 2023). One more worrying threat is Wi-Fi networks which are very popular today because they are easy to use and bring considerable cost savings. Public wireless connections widely used in coffee shops, airports or shopping centers are most dangerous, for example. They are able to leverage these insecure networks for the purpose of performing man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks and steal user credentials as well as sensitive information. In such attacks, cybercriminals create a new connection between a user and the network, thus, intercepting ongoing conversations and intercepting login credentials or injecting malware into the conversation. To avoid this kind of risk, the user should not-conduct sensitive activities like Internet banking on such networks or any other public places but insist on using VPN’s for encryption and security (Wang and Wang 2022). Another important type of cyber threats is network spoofing, which is when the attacker comes up with fake access point look-alikes. Many a time the users access these fake networks because they are disguised to appear as genuine, and input their confidential IDs and passwords which the hackers can easily capture.

Reference materials and study examples assist students in mastering assignment structure and academic growth. We provide help in assignment writing ensuring full originality. The Cyber Warfare And Mobile Security: Ethics, Threats, And National Resilience Assignment Sample demonstrates cyber threats, ethical analysis, and resilience strategies. Strictly for educational reference.

This method is particularly useful in areas where there are several Wi-Fi networks existing. As soon as a hacker obtains login credentials, it is a free Ride to have privileged access to personal or corporate login details and profile, which cause data leak or embezzle, financial fraud, or unauthorized access to the corporation’s systems. Furthermore, attacks by phishing have increased where attackers access users’ computers through fraudulent e-mails, short messaging services or fake Web sites and request for private information. Mobile device security particularly stand in the line due to smishing, where the recipients of the text messages are led to click links to platforms whose authenticity is fake. It is possible to be redirected to such pages by clicking on these links and end up having spyware installed, which works in the background and spies on the user while forwarding the gathered information to the criminals. Spyware can record and monitor activities with the aim of highlighting the user as a keyboard logger has the potential to capture user name, password and files that have been saved in a computer. Another regarding issue is so-called ‘broken’ cryptography which appears due to the usage of a weak encryption algorithm or incorrect implementation of a strong one (Sikder et al 2021). Hackers can take advantage of weaknesses inherent in the encryption algorithms and break security, which is a great threat for users of mobile banking apps, customers using encrypted messaging apps, and organisations engaging in secure emailing. Security is also compromised as in most cases, poor session handling enables an attacker to obtain session tokens once the user logs out of an account or fails to invalidate the token properly.

Activity 9.2: Firmware Analysis Tools

Firmware study is necessary for securing IoT devices as firmware contains many vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. There are many tools to analyse firmware among which Binwalk is used which is focused on working with firmware images. It helps security researchers to analyze potential security threats present in firmware by allowing to search for strings and patterns in files present within firmware, compressed archives, and executable binaries (Bakhshi et al 2024). Binwalk works based on signatures and also extracts file system components from firmware files. This makes it possible for researchers to view configuration files, stored passwords or accounts and other hard coded encryption keys which are often left behind during the development stage. The tool is especially useful in reverse engineering firmware and finding open doors, unsafe script, or security settings perhaps set up by intruders (Ul Haq et al 2023). That is why Binwalk can be easily integrated with other security tools like Firmwalker and fcrackzip, which helps it to improve the speed and effectiveness of searching for passwords and other sensitive data in firmware. Also, Binwalk can extract and analyze different parts of firmware and is highly useful when performing pen-testing and vulnerability assessment. It also has some drawbacks, mainly in the usage scenario that involves analysis of encrypted firmware or binaries that contains highly obfuscated code (Bolandi 2022). In such situations, further tools for operating are necessary, with Radare2 or Ghidra being more popular. However, it is relevant to note that Binwalk is crucial to IoT security because it helps in the determination of firmware vulnerabilities arising from ransomware and malware attacks. This is due to the key role played by Binwalk in the analysis of firmware to help secure IoT devices that are increasingly becoming a target of cyberattacks.

Activity 9.3: Netstat tests results analysis

In this activity, various traffic tests were performed with the aid of netstat to determine the current network connections, open ports and routing table. Working for the proposed goal of analyzing system network activity and determine possible security threats. The first command (netstat -a) shows current open and listening sockets, information about the ongoing and waiting processes, opportunities. This output is very important in determining insecure remote connections that may be connected to the system or other unauthorized services running on the system. The second test (netstat -n) showed the network connections substituting hostnames with numerical IP addresses as well as port numbers (Tudosi et al 2023). This helps to reduce the time necessary for the DNS resolution and provides a direct vision on network interactions which is useful for identification of suspicious activity. The last command combined with the current connection netstat -ano provided Process IDs which are related to the selected connection for further correlation with the running processes. This test can be useful for detecting all forms of malicious programs or undesired programs that might be running on the network. As a result, potential network services and the presence of unauthorized connections were established. On the same context, netstat when done repeatedly is useful in improving security since it gives information that can be used in recognizing abnormalities in traffic.

Netstat Tests Report

Introduction

This report is aimed to provide the outcomes of the network diagnostics based on the analysis of the netstat command. Namely, netstat is one of the important command line that is used to check the current connections with other systems, open ports and the routing information. This activity involves carrying out an inspection of the network activity to evaluate security threats as well as becoming familiar with netstat as a monitoring tool on the systems.

Methodology

The following is a list of the three basic tests that netstat uses in order to get network details:

  • netstat –a – this will display all current active connections as well as ports that are listening. It is used in discovering the opened ports and whether there is any other services running in the system.
  • netstat -n – This test provides current connection information together with information such as specific IP address or certain port without having to use DNS to resolve this information. It provides a better understanding of the first-degree network relations.
  • netstat -ano – The last command adds the process ID (PID) in connection with currently opening connections to allow cross-referencing with other active processes in the operating system.

Each of them was run one by one before using the outcome to flag any suspicious events.

Results and Analysis

The results of the netstat -a included multiple active connections in network as well as ports that are used for listening. It gave information about protocols (TCP/UDP) currently being used giving details on services that were awaiting for connections. This test is very beneficial on defining if there are more services running on a specific system than necessary or if there are malicious services running on the system. The netstat -n test yielded similar results as with the netstat -a test but only provided the hosts and ports in numbers computer IPs and port numbers respectively instead of their equivalent domain names.

This form of numeration is useful when analyzing flow traffic patterns and the emergence of threats because it does not involve DNS lookups. From the output, it was possible to know specific IP address that connected to the system and in order to have a confirmation. The addition of PIDs with the netstat -ano made it easier to easily identify running application associated with a certain connection (Nazar et al 2022). This test was useful in determining which processes were engaged in specific ports. Thus, if an unknown or suspicious process was identified to be in a state of communication, further examination could be initiated by typing tasklist command.

Security Implications

Netstat stands for network statistic and it is among those commands that should not miss in a network environment regularly checked by an administrator. Any connections, which are unauthorized or suspicious in nature are undesirable since it depicts a sign of security breach, virus infestation, or improper configuration of a services. For instance, if the system records current connections within outside IP addresses that are not recognized by the network, it might imply the system is involved in data stealing or unauthorized access into the network (Arifuzzaman et al 2021). From the netstat result, one can identify some weakness for instance open ports, unnecessary ports connectivity and others. Furthermore, using PIDs, one is able to identify such application that are trying to communicate in a given period of time when this is prohibited.

Conclusion

The netstat tests carried out in this activity were rather informative in terms of active connections in the network and current processes. The improved understanding of how to read Netstat results is relevant when it comes to identifying possible threats in the network. Including netstat in frequent security assessments increases an organization’s ability significantly by minimizing the risks of malicious activity.

Activity 9.4: 5G in cybersecurity

5G in Cybersecurity: A Comparative Analysis with 4G

Introduction

The employment of the 5G network has brought significant benefits to the mobile and low-power communication systems in terms of speed, latency, and connectivity. However, this advancement has provoked some discussions on the level of its compliance to cyber security than the previous 4G. This paper looks at the potential enhancements of security in 5G as compared to 4G for selecting the appropriate security solutions and the problems that may arise with the implementation of the latter.

Differences in Cybersecurity Compliance: 4G vs. 5G

The 4G networks have a centralized network architecture that as much as it is efficient has many security concerns. A centralized core implies that there is only one hub that can be targeted by cyber attackers with relative ease. However, 5G relies on open and software-defined networking with the use of technologies such as network function virtualization (Mohammed et al 2024). These bring a lot of flexibility into the system but at the same time they open new vectors of attack and possible vulnerabilities related with virtualization.

Authentication and Encryption Enhancements

Another of the basic enhancements of the cybersecurity in 5G is related precisely to the authentication mechanisms that are incorporated. Unlike 4G, 5G comes with additional cryptographic means for reactive authentication, including the SUPI (Subscription Permanent Identifier) encryption (Pirbhulal et al 2024). This encryption method has the advantage of securing users’identity from unauthorized interception, which is common with 4G networks.

Network Slicing and Its Security Implications

5G introduced the network slicing, which means that many networks will share the physical infrastructure of the networks. This brings efficiency but on the other side there is the security issue. If implemented in a wrong way, an attack to one of them would be able to affect the rest of the slices. For example, the current 4G network has no such slicing factors, thereby minimizing inter-slice attack probabilities while at the same time minimizing network adaptability.

Artificial Intelligence and Threat Detection

While 4G has established protocols on which the security mechanism principally depends upon, 5G uses dynamic AI and ML to identify and counter threats. Threat detection with the help of AI accelerates the recognition of possible threats or Cybersecurity threats. However, the use of AI brings security threats such as adversal subdivision of machine learning where the input data is manipulated to deceive the security measures put in place.

Increased IoT Connectivity and Associated Risks

In terms of IoT devices connection, 5G has a higher capability compared to 4G. Although it increases smart infrastructures and automations, it widens them as well (Salman et al 2023). Hackers target weak links in the unsecured devices of the IoT network hence posing more risk to the network. While 5G involves enhancements over prior generations in that it uses security protocols such as mutual authentication for IoT entities, the efficiency of these measures poses developments of active investigation.

Challenges and Future Considerations

Nevertheless, 5G has its drawbacks that are hard to ignore when it comes to cybersecurity. The network reliance on software has also become increased, and this has also meant that new routes to attack the network have been created. Further, nation-state actors and criminals are always looking for opportunities to exploit new networks. That is exactly the case with 5G infrastructure where trust is required not only for key components but also for the supply chains themselves as compromised equipment has ability to incorporate back-door for spies.

Conclusion

Hence, it is evident that 5G has better security features than the 4G network but brings unique threats that are constantly evolving. Nevertheless, issues persist when it comes to the implementation of such measures like the use of advanced encryption and AI in threat detection as well as network slicing, which can improve cybersecurity compliance. The security of the mobile communication environment in the coming with the evolution and development of 5G and other more advanced technologies will be pivotal and therefore, there must be harmonious cooperation between the industry players, governments, and cybersecurity practitioners in the future.

Activity 9.5: Cyber threats for mobile devices

Smartphones also play an essential role in our daily lives whether it’s in calling, banking or even to access important data. While the use of the mobile devices for business purposes has benefited the organizations, these business have in turn become vulnerable to cyber threats (Digmelashvili, 2023). The following are six major threats to the smart mobile devices across different operating systems:

Malicious Applications

Most of the time, they are packaged and displayed as genuine applications so as to make people download them into their systems. Afterwards, they are able to acquire private data and gaining access to activity, or add further malicious programs (Ofili et al., 2024). Both the Android and iOS applications have faced such threats indicating the importance of exercising a lot of caution when installing an application.

Phishing Attacks

Phishing is the process of faking real organization where by the attacker makes the victim to disclose his or her account details or other critical information. In most mobile platforms, phishing may take place through emails, messages or even a hostile website (Miller and Bossomaier, 2024). Smartphones are especially vulnerable due to the fact that they are portable devices that are always connected to the internet.

Unsecured Wi-Fi Networks

One of the biggest challenges of using mobile device in accessing public Wi-Fi networks is that users easily fall prey to man-in-the-middle attacks where hackers steal the data transmitted between the device and the internet (Radanliev, 2025). This may result in exposure of personal data and credentials to the wrong persons hence posing risk to the users. Users should refrain from joining insecure networks.

Outdated Operating Systems and Software

Not updating mobile operation systems and applications can therefore result in increased reception and execution of commands that seek to exploit known loopholes. Unfortunately, these vulnerabilities create ideal conditions that the hackers seek to invade or inject viruses and malware. Keeping devices up to date means that the latest security updates are applied on the system at the earliest.

Spyware

Spyware is another type of malicious software, which operates in secret and gathers information from the device’s user without his or her approval. It can spy on activities, spy on data and even manipulate the device functionality. Some examples include Pegasus that has been focused on both the Android and iPhone devices.

Ransomware

Ransomware restricts the victim’s access to their devices or encrypted files and data, then the attacker demands to restore access for a fee. This kind of malware especially becomes rampant in the mobile phones and it affects several user’s information and even costs a lot of money. To reduce this risk, users should avoid using suspicious links and downloads.

Mitigation Strategies

In order to protect oneself against mobile cyber threats, one should acquire apps only from the official stores and check their authenticity. They must not click on any link that appears under any circumstance and should be wary of any unrecognised communication (Kumar and Nagar, 2024). When connecting to the public place Wi-Fi one needs to use the VPN service it is also necessary to update the software frequently and install the security software from the reputable service.

Activity 9.6: Difference between cyber and traditional warfare

How is cyber warfare different from conventional war?

Cyber warfare can be described as a relatively new form of warfare since it does not involve physical entities but rather focus on computer systems. It is a technique that overcomes the use of force and involves hacking, use of viruses and getting hold of information (Steingartner et al., 2021). Cyber attacks are generally unattributable, that is, the parties involved are difficult to determine and such war is primarily psychological and economic rather than physical.

Cyber Warfare vs. Conventional War

Cyber warfare is a relatively new form of war that is largely Uniquely different from the traditional wars that are fought using conventional instruments. Contrary to conventional war where strategies entail direct aggression by bombardments and invasions, cyber war is a covert act that seeks to disrupt information technology and computer networks and the general security of a nation. It is important to define the nature of combat as the main difference between cyber warfare and conventional war. Conventional war refers to a situation where two or more countries use their forces, equipment and manpower within a given period to defeat an opponent. Cyber warfare is more subtle in that it involves hacking computers systems, injecting malware into those systems and launching a Denial of Service (DoS) attack on an opponent (Adewusi et al., 2024). These are capable of paralyzing banks, cutting off communication channels and in some cases, even entire nations’ electricity supplies, without firing a single shot. In conventional conflict, it is easy to determine the attacker and such wars are fought in a prescribed manner according to international law. However, in cyber warfare, the attackers can mask their identity through anonymization methods, hence is hard to ascertain if it was originated by an individual, criminals or state actors. This is another factor that makes diplomacy and deploying of forces within the region complex. Therefore, the effects of cyber warfare are also unlike the ordinary concept of warfare. Whereas the conventional wars cause physical destruction, the loss of lives, and other properties, cyber warfare impacts the economy and entails the loss of data and societal interference (AlDaajeh et al., 2022). Nonetheless, in exceptional scenarios, the cyber attacks could bring about physical ramifications due to their impacts on industrial control systems. Cyber warfare is a evolution of conflict that often replaces one’s conventional thinking about war. In recent years, threats in the digital domain have emerged, and countries need to create strategies to protect from cyber attacks, as some of the future wars will be fought in the cyberspace domain.

Activity 9.7: Moral Cases of Cyber Warfare

Moral Cases of Cyber Warfare

Cyber warfare is proving to be a challenging issue when it comes to ethical questions as most of the actions taken are beyond conventional war norms and entail attacks on civil and military related structures. The applicability of moral categories to action implies that there is such a thing as a ‘just war,’ that is, an attack that measures up to what is permissible in a war or conflict. The question that arises is whether retaliation should include a cyberattack on the aggressor. While the use of force is fully justified in this case, overreaction can lead to the suffering of civilians, affecting such crucial facilities as electricity and medical centers (Saeed et al., 2023). Also, retaliation through a cyberattack if one’s military base has been attacked creates issues of relevance and proportionality. Those who support the concept claim that it is a preferable to actual warfare whereby the physical force is employed, while those who are apprehensive point to the likelihood of escalation. Another ethical question concerning the use of cyber weapons is the use of the first strike doctrine, a preemptive measure. Some instances where there is intelligence that a certain country posed a threat to another nation; is it right to launch protective cyber strike? Such actions can lead to severe precedents and establish virtual hostility as acceptable behavior. However, an attempt to counter with conventional armed force raises a question because in most of the cyber related aggression, there are no bodies that can be counted (Ige et al., 2024). The dark webs are found to be crucial in cyber warfare as they are used by cybercriminals and government intelligence agencies. Even though it is helpful to monitor these networks with an aim of counteracting these attacks, there are problems with privacy and ethical regulation. To avoid outright escalations in the cyber warfare, separate standards should be set to control the situations globally.

Activity 9.8: Tor Browser

Tor Browser and Anonymity on the Dark Web

The Tor browser is an open source and most common application utilized for browsing Dark web to maintain anonymity (Saleem et al 2022). It function through a relay system of servers run by volunteers online that anonymize the customer’s IP address and encrypt their online traffic several times. So that it cannot be monitored by website owners, ISPs, and the government agencies on the browsing that is being done.

Installation and IP Address Testing

In general, to install the Tor Browser on Kali Linux, I first update the repositories of the System and install required packages by using:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install tor torbrowser-launcher

The launcher then downloaded and checked the contents of the Tor package and extract it to launch the Tor. When the browser was opened, the connection to the Tor network was established. To ensure that I was indeed anonymous, I used my IP checker in check.torproject.org and whatismyipaddress.com, and I realized that every time that I restarted the Tor, it had a different IP. This is so because Tor uses a new path of relays for every session hence; tracing turns out to be tough.

Tor vs. VPN

Tor and VPN can anonymize the users, but they work differently from each other. A VPN secures and transmits data through a distinct server and conceals the user’s IP address by relying on the VPN’s authenticity (Henderson 2025). However, in case of Tor it just reroutes the traffic through several encrypted intermediate nodes none of whom understands the source and the destination points. However, the major disadvantage of using Tor is that it is slower than a VPN since it provides multiple layers of encryption (Collier 2024). As much as Tor enhances anonymity in accessing the dark web, it is prohibited in some countries. Before using it, individuals have to check the official laws prevailing in their region.

Activity 9.9: Current state of cyber warfare

The Future of Cyber Warfare and Preparedness

Cyber warfare is no longer a thing of the future or a fictional concept that is used in movies and video games but is now a part of the warfare engagement. Thus, as nations attempt at incorporating cyber capabilities in their defense system, it is likely that future wars shall be fought in cyber domains rather than the natural ones. AI, machine learning and quantum computing which are the recent developments would increase the complexity of the cyber warfare with respect to intensity of attacks and also increase the difficulty of defending against such attacks (Obioha Val et al., 2025). As several cases have shown, cyber war goes beyond the mere theft of information and personal data; instead, it targets infrastructures, finances, and even the democracy itself. The increased use of cyber-physical systems like smart grids and automotive systems add new challenges that the adversaries can take.” The occurred cyber incidents can become more sophisticated with artificial intelligence, which may further complicate the process of attribution and responding. For this to happen, the next generation needs to be adequately prepared concerning cybersecurity skills. Governments must encourage the teaching of cybersecurity in schools to begin with, and incorporate elements and practices such as ethical hacking, encryption, and cyber defense techniques in school (Tzavara and Vassiliadis, 2024). Besides, cooperation between the states is crucial to create international norms and standards of the cyberspace. Laws like the Budapest Convention should be reinforced in order to increase cooperation between countries in the fight against cyber threats. On the technological front, there is a need to develop measures of prevention in organizations and governments by employing mechanisms that include artificial intelligence in threats’ detection as well as employing blockchain technology (Syrmakesis et al., 2022). Quantum-resistant encryption will become the new kind of encryption that will be utilized to protect data from threats emerging in the future. Periodic exercises of the cybersecurity program, including tabletop exercises and simulations, need to be performed. Finally, people’s awareness and readiness towards Cyber Security is the global responsibility. With creating the culture of responsible and educating generation in terms of using digital platforms and technologies, it is possible to minimize the threats of cyber warfare for societies.

Activity 9.10: Cyber espionage

Cyber Espionage in the Automotive Industry

Cybersecurity threats are real and are known to pose a threat to industries, including the automotive industry. Since automobile companies are bringing cutting edge technologies like automobiles with self-driving features, IoT and AI into play, they are most looked upon by hackers. These are relished by individuals or groups of individuals such as those funded by states or corporations that want to obtain information, incapacitate or outcompete rivals (Aviv and Ferri, 2023). Thus, supply chain could be another likely approach to target a car manufacturer for purposes of espionage. Some depend on third parties for software, hardware as well as automobile parts. A spy can take advantage of these vulnerabilities in the suppliers to compromise the networks through malware or backdoors, thus accessing to company data. This method is effective due to the fact that a majority of these small vendors do not have the same security measures followed in big companies. One of the other main types of attacks that were observed is spear phishing, when cybercriminals send specific e-mail to the company employees, which contain links that lead to a malware or contain infected attachments (Ofili et al., 2023). This makes it possible for spies to infiltrate the company’s internal networks to steal blue-prints, research data and new designs of its automobiles among other things. Insider threats are also a major concern of an organization since they present a potential danger to the firm. Another risk that could happen is where an employee with ill intent gives vital information to a competitor or a foreign government. One type of threat is when the attacker intentionally tricks employees into revealing login details or sensitive papers. Also, as the name suggests, zero day threats are blunders in the software that are unknown to security mechanisms to get control of the important facilities. Hackers could leverage all of these to influence the operations of the software in connected automobiles or even taint self-driving algorithms (Jimmy, 2021). To avoid such incidents, the car manufacturers need to incorporate better security measures like Strong Access Controls, security check-ups frequently, educated employees and Risk Analysis through AI-based systems. The issue of protecting an automobile maker’s ideas from cyber theft could be a key challenge since the industry is rapidly moving towards digital systems.

Activity 9.11: Cyber terrorism

Cyber Warfare vs. Cyber Terrorism: A Technical Perspective

Cyber warfare is attacks on vital computer systems while cyber terrorism is an act of terror using computers to execute premeditated violent actions. Though both are associated with cyber based assaults, their purposes, performers and targets set them apart.

Cyber Warfare: A State-Sponsored Digital Battlefield

Cyber warfare can be defined as the utilization of cyber tools for attack purposes by nation-states and their surrogates against other nations. It is a weapon which is employed during geopolitical tensions and can be aimed at governments’ facilities, weaponry and communication networks. Most attacks in cyber warfare are usually very advanced and well supported through systems such as the advanced persistent threats (APTs) where the attacks are targeted at gaining entry into an enemy’s network and remain within undetected for long periods of time (Sontan and Samuel, 2024). Among them it is possible to name the famous Stuxnet virus attack occurred in 2010. According to some sources this malware was created by the US and Israel and it was used in disrupting the nuclear program of Iran by closing down the industrial control systems leading to malfunction of the centrifuges. Stuxnet showed that cyberspace as a domain of conflict could have tangible destructive impacts on a country’s infrastructure. Another real-world example is the NotPetya attack, which occurred in 2017 and is believed to be originated from Russian hackers with its first target in Ukraine but affected organisations all over the world, and was reported to cost companies around the world billions of US dollars.

Cyber Terrorism: Digital Attacks with Psychological Impact

Cyber terrorism, in contrast, is a form of terrorism exercised by a different group- a non-state actor like a terrorist organization, which employs cyberspace tools to threaten society or cause damage for purposes of ideological, religious, or political inclination. While cyber warfare may involve espionage, and the achievement of other strategic or military goals, cyber terrorism is an act that is meant to cause psychological terror to the citizens (Okoli et al., 2024). Cyber terrorism can be described in detail referring to the example of the Sony Pictures Cyber-Attack in 2014 when the “Guardians of Peace,” the group affiliated with North Korea, hacked a variety of data which included threatening an act of violence if Sony did not stop the distribution of the movie The Interview. Thus, the purpose was not to capture territory, but to create panic and change people’s perceptions of the world. One more realistic type of the cyber terrorism threat is a cyber attack on infrastructure facilities energy supply networks, medical facilities, or water supplies. If a terrorist group is able to compromise the electrical grid of a city, it would result to panic, which leads to losses, and a high number of possible fatalities if the power fails in a hospital or other essential services.

Key differences

AspectCyber WarfareCyber Terrorism
Actors Nation-states, military units, state-sponsored groups Terrorist organizations, hacktivists, ideological groups
Objective Espionage, military advantage, economic disruption Fear, political or ideological influence, societal chaos
Targets Military, government institutions, critical infrastructure Civilian infrastructure, media, public services
Methods Advanced persistent threats, zero-day exploits, malware Website defacements, DDoS attacks, ransomware
Example Stuxnet (Iran’s nuclear program attack) Sony Pictures Hack (North Korea)

Conclusion

Cyber Warfare And Mobile Security Assignment Sample
Liked This Sample? Hire Me Now
Adam Turner
Adam Turner 4 reviews 10 Years | MSc

Even though both cyber warfare as well as cyber terrorism are infringement in nature or are cyberattacks, they differ in the actors, the aims, and the targets. Cyber warfare is a modern form of an information warfare that is mostly for spying on the enemy and threats to its security of a state while cyber terrorism is a method of terrorizing the population and disrupting its functioning. Moreover, the new version of the threats existing in the modern world implies that governments and other organizations are to develop effective protective measures towards cyber threats that can either be state-sponsored or related to terrorist activities.

Activity 9.12: Cyber intervention

Cyber Intervention and National Resilience

Introduction

Cyber intervention refers to a situation in which one country seeks to gain control, manipulate or disrupt the information systems in another country or their political and/or economic processes. In contrast, cyber intervention is not entirely unlawful but occurs within the legal framework, which hinders it from being considered an act of war in the right and proper sense of the word. It covers actions like propaganda, vote rigging, economic laden and cyber espionage, where an opponent does not cause harm and has a target state collapse gradually. In the current world that depends more on digitally controlled technologies, it becomes compulsory for countries to build up their ability to outcompete against cyber interferences of other nations.

Understanding Cyber Intervention

Cyber-interference comes out in many forms, all posing great risks to the safety of a country. It is a process where the free will of the voters is tampered with and influenced by external forces such as through posting fake news and hacking into computer systems as in the case of Russia in the USA elections. Economic disruption focuses on the interruption of financial entities including the stock exchange as was the case with New Zealand in 2020. Spying and pirate mainly consists of unauthorized stealing of business and military secrets and China stands accused of cyber espionage in the past several years (Iftikhar, 2024). Infrastructure manipulation is an act of installing malicious software in computer systems that control essential facilities making them vulnerable to hacks. Furthermore, the deep fake news and fake information spread influence the political processes in various countries and incite dissatisfaction among citizens.

Building National Resilience against Cyber Intervention

In order to combat cyber intervention, there is a need to establish a multiple-layered security system at the national level. It is highly imperative for governments to enhance the cybersecurity by availing comprehensive solutions such as usage of AI in threat detection, strict access control and periodic check-up. It is vital to use cyber laws in an effort to control fake news and increase the protection of the elections. Arming citizens with information on how to protect oneself from phishing, fake news, and the correct way to use social media also protects against manipulation. Recruiting and training cyber defense teams, working with businesses, and performing cyber exercise enhance readiness. The current security cooperation like the NATO Cyber Defense Pledge also promotes information exchange. Working with International organizations such as the United Nations may facilitate the development of legal standards for such defense with much success.

Conclusion

Cyber intervention is a relatively new theme that is gaining significance in contemporary geopolitics because it provides a state with an opportunity to control or unsettle another state without direct conflict. Compared to cybercrime, cyber intervention does not break the law and relies on people’s psychological weakness to gain access. Nevertheless, nations can create some protective measures like putting up a stronger cybersecurity, implementing the existing cyber laws, creating awareness across the society, and strengthening the cooperation with other countries. The proactive approach will guarantee national security and independence in the digital space due to the threats that are being developed continuously.

Activity 9.13: Fake news game

Introduction

False news is a reality in the modern information wars and impacts discourse and perceptions, as well as societies and, in some instances, states. Due to the influx of social media platform and other digital platforms it has become very easy for the wrong information to circulate. Within this cybersecurity module, one of the activities completed was the Fake News Game which aims at checking the performance of an individual in discerning fake news and shows an understanding of the process of creation and spread of such news. This is the result of the game I played and this report also covers the general effects of fake news in a larger perspective specifically in a country.

Results from the Fake News Game

The objective of the game was to identify whether certain news articles, tweets, and headlines I was given during the game were real or fake. Playing fake news, I was able to learn the main strategies of false information dissemination and influencing people’s opinion. Thus, my performance on this assignment was satisfactory with a relatively high level of accuracy in the identification of fake news. Even then I was sometimes mislead, especially by what can be said as sensational, and articles that were clearly written for the sole purpose of such a mislead. The game helped me understand one characteristic of misinformation which was evident in the game. As such, the manipulation techniques leveraged by fake news included the sensationalized use of emotionally appealing words and phrases, rumor and gossip articles, overweighting an article with statistics, deceiving headlines, and fake sources. Also, equally important to that, I realized that manipulation algorithms that drive the traffic to sources, including social media networks, often reward engagement at the expense of credibility, which means that even if a person is careful, there will always be false information reaching him or her.

The Danger of Fake News on a National Scale

Some of the consequences of fake news are political manipulation, social tension and even economic downfall, which affects nations and societies. It is common knowledge that disinformation affects elections and stirs up conflict among citizens and undermines their trust in the democratic process. The flow of information from governments, media, and scientific institutions needs people’s trust, though disbelief in the information spreads because of fake news, for example, during the COVID-19 crisis. On the economic aspect, rumors about market crash or insolvency of certain firms harm the market and result in panic, which is rather detrimental to businesses and investors (Kolade et al., 2025). Further, fake news becomes a security threat since hackers and state actors present misinformation regarding military operations and government policies to weaken stability in a society. Due to the high usage of social media, such outcomes are likely to occur because there is usually no proper way of separating fact from fiction. This calls for enhanced misinformation detection, media literacy intervention along with more intense policies and legislations against the sponsors of fake news and influencers of societal instability.

Conclusion

The Fake News Game was helpful to understand how fake news is made and distributed to an audience. It emphasized on how critical people should be when forming opinions and accepting information; they should not accept such information at face value but should cross-check the information sources. On a larger scale, fake news is very disastrous because it can determine the outcome of an election, cripple the economy and compromise the security of a country. To avoid this, people must be made aware of media literacy, the platforms must have measures to remove fake news, and the government must make laws that prohibit fake news to be spread. It means that integrated teamwork can lead to formation of the society that is better prepared to face different problems.

Feeling overwhelmed by your assignment?

Get assistance from our PROFESSIONAL ASSIGNMENT WRITERS to receive 100% assured AI-free and high-quality documents on time, ensuring an A+ grade in all subjects.

Reference List

Journals

  • Cinar, A.C. and Kara, T.B., 2023. The current state and future of mobile security in the light of the recent mobile security threat reports. Multimedia Tools and Applications, 82(13), pp.20269-20281.
  • Sikder, A.K., Petracca, G., Aksu, H., Jaeger, T. and Uluagac, A.S., 2021. A survey on sensor-based threats and attacks to smart devices and applications. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 23(2), pp.1125-1159.
  • Wang, Q. and Wang, D., 2022. Understanding failures in security proofs of multi-factor authentication for mobile devices. IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security, 18, pp.597-612.
  • Bakhshi, T., Ghita, B. and Kuzminykh, I., 2024. A review of IoT firmware vulnerabilities and auditing techniques. Sensors, 24(2), p.708.
  • Ul Haq, S., Singh, Y., Sharma, A., Gupta, R. and Gupta, D., 2023. A survey on IoT & embedded device firmware security: architecture, extraction techniques, and vulnerability analysis frameworks. Discover Internet of Things, 3(1), p.17.
  • Bolandi, F., 2022. Automated security analysis of firmware.
  • Arifuzzaman, M., Islam, S. and Arslan, E., 2021, October. Towards generalizable network anomaly detection models. In 2021 IEEE 46th conference on local computer networks (LCN) (pp. 375-378). IEEE.
  • Nazar, N., Darvishi, I. and Yeboah-Ofori, A., 2022, September. Cyber threat analysis on online learning and its mitigation techniques amid covid-19. In 2022 IEEE International Smart Cities Conference (ISC2) (pp. 1-7). IEEE.
  • Tudosi, A.D., Graur, A., Balan, D.G. and Potorac, A.D., 2023. Research on Security Weakness Using Penetration Testing in a Distributed Firewall. Sensors, 23(5), p.2683.
  • Mohammed, M.J., Ghazi, A., Awad, A.M., Hassan, S.I., Jawad, H.M., Jasim, K.M. and Nurmamatovna, M.A., 2024, April. A Comparison of 4G LTE and 5G Network Cybersecurity Performance. In 2024 35th Conference of Open Innovations Association (FRUCT) (pp. 452-464). IEEE.
  • Salman, H.A., Alsajri, A., Kalakech, A. and Steiti, A., 2023. Difference Between 4G and 5G Networks. Babylonian Journal of Networking, 2023, pp.41-54.
  • Pirbhulal, S., Chockalingam, S., Shukla, A. and Abie, H., 2024. IoT cybersecurity in 5G and beyond: a systematic literature review. International Journal of Information Security, 23(4), pp.2827-2879.
  • Saleem, J., Islam, R. and Kabir, M.A., 2022. The anonymity of the dark web: A survey. Ieee Access, 10, pp.33628-33660.
  • Henderson, L., 2025. Tor and the dark art of anonymity. Tektime.
  • Collier, B., 2024. Tor: From the dark web to the future of privacy. MIT Press.
  • Digmelashvili, T., 2023. The impact of cyberwarfare on the national security. Future Human Image, (19), pp.12-19.
  • Ofili, B.T., Ezeadi, S.C. and Jegede, T.B., 2024. Securing US national interests with cloud innovation: data sovereignty, threat intelligence and digital warfare preparedness. Int J Sci Res Arch, 12(01), pp.3160-3179.
  • Kumar, S. and Nagar, G., 2024, June. Threat Modeling for Cyber Warfare Against Less Cyber-Dependent Adversaries. In European Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security (Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 257-264).
  • Miller, S. and Bossomaier, T., 2024. Cybersecurity, ethics, and collective responsibility. Oxford University Press.
  • Radanliev, P., 2025. Cyber diplomacy: defining the opportunities for cybersecurity and risks from Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Blockchains, and Quantum Computing. Journal of Cyber Security Technology, 9(1), pp.28-78.
  • Steingartner, W., Galinec, D. and Kozina, A., 2021. Threat defense: Cyber deception approach and education for resilience in hybrid threats model. Symmetry, 13(4), p.597.
  • Adewusi, A.O., Okoli, U.I., Olorunsogo, T., Adaga, E., Daraojimba, D.O. and Obi, O.C., 2024. Artificial intelligence in cybersecurity: Protecting national infrastructure: A USA. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 21(1), pp.2263-2275.
  • AlDaajeh, S., Saleous, H., Alrabaee, S., Barka, E., Breitinger, F. and Choo, K.K.R., 2022. The role of national cybersecurity strategies on the improvement of cybersecurity education. Computers & Security, 119, p.102754.
  • Saeed, S., Altamimi, S.A., Alkayyal, N.A., Alshehri, E. and Alabbad, D.A., 2023. Digital transformation and cybersecurity challenges for businesses resilience: Issues and recommendations. Sensors, 23(15), p.6666.
  • Ige, A.B., Kupa, E. and Ilori, O., 2024. Analyzing defense strategies against cyber risks in the energy sector: Enhancing the security of renewable energy sources. International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 12(1), pp.2978-2995.
  • Syrmakesis, A.D., Alcaraz, C. and Hatziargyriou, N.D., 2022. Classifying resilience approaches for protecting smart grids against cyber threats. International Journal of Information Security, 21(5), pp.1189-1210.
  • Obioha Val, O., Olaniyi, O.O., Gbadebo, M.O., Balogun, A.Y. and Olisa, A.O., 2025. Cyber Espionage in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: A Comparative Study of State-Sponsored Campaign. Oluwaseun Oladeji and Gbadebo, Michael Olayinka and Balogun, Adebayo Yusuf and Olisa, Anthony Obulor, Cyber Espionage in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: A Comparative Study of State-Sponsored Campaign(January 22, 2025).
  • Tzavara, V. and Vassiliadis, S., 2024. Tracing the evolution of cyber resilience: a historical and conceptual review. International Journal of Information Security, 23(3), pp.1695-1719.
  • Aviv, I. and Ferri, U., 2023. Russian-Ukraine armed conflict: Lessons learned on the digital ecosystem. International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, 43, p.100637.
  • Jimmy, F., 2021. Emerging threats: The latest cybersecurity risks and the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing cybersecurity defenses. Valley International Journal Digital Library, 1, pp.564-74.
  • Ofili, B.T., Obasuyi, O.T. and Akano, T.D., 2023. Edge Computing, 5G, and Cloud Security Convergence: Strengthening USA’s Critical Infrastructure Resilience. Int J Comput Appl Technol Res, 12(9), pp.17-31.
  • Sontan, A.D. and Samuel, S.V., 2024. The intersection of Artificial Intelligence and cybersecurity: Challenges and opportunities. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 21(2), pp.1720-1736.
  • Okoli, U.I., Obi, O.C., Adewusi, A.O. and Abrahams, T.O., 2024. Machine learning in cybersecurity: A review of threat detection and defense mechanisms. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 21(1), pp.2286-2295.
  • Iftikhar, S., 2024. Cyberterrorism as a global threat: a review on repercussions and countermeasures. PeerJ Computer Science, 10, p.e1772.
  • Kolade, T.M., Obioha Val, O., Balogun, A.Y., Gbadebo, M.O. and Olaniyi, O.O., 2025. AI-driven open source intelligence in cyber defense: A double-edged sword for national security. Adebayo Yusuf and Gbadebo, Michael Olayinka and Olaniyi, Oluwaseun Oladeji, AI-Driven Open Source Intelligence in Cyber Defense: A Double-edged Sword for National Security(January 18, 2025).

Recently Downloaded Samples by Customers

Public Health And Health Promotion Assignment Sample

1. Introduction Get free samples written by our Top-Notch subject experts for taking online Assignment...View and Download

Thermal Energy Systems Assignment Sample

 Introduction Get free samples written by our Top-Notch subject experts for taking assignment...View and Download

Financial Assessment of Spirax Group Corporate Finance Assignment Sample

1: Introduction and Background Spirax Group (SG) has been selected for this corporate finance evaluation due to its established...View and Download

Nutrition Biochemistry Assignment Sample

Introduction Get free samples written by our Top-Notch subject experts for taking online Assignment...View and Download

Comprehensive Nursing Care Plan for IDC and Haematuria Assignment Samples

Introduction Get free samples written by our Top-Notch subject experts for taking assignment help services. Nursing...View and Download

Food & Beverage Marketing for Product Success Assignment Sample

1.1 Food & Beverage Marketing for Product Success Assignment Get top-quality Assignment Help Online for topics in strategic...View and Download

Get 55% Off on this Christmas - Limited Time Academic Offer