Inside Russia’s Social Media War on America

[davidm]

This is frightening.

Inside Russia’s Social Media War on America

The report said the Russians had sent expertly tailored messages carrying malware to more than 10,000 Twitter users in the Defense Department. Depending on the interests of the targets, the messages offered links to stories on recent sporting events or the Oscars, which had taken place the previous weekend. When clicked, the links took users to a Russian-controlled server that downloaded a program allowing Moscow’s hackers to take control of the victim’s phone or computer–and Twitter account.
…
Now counterintelligence officials wondered: What chaos could Moscow unleash with thousands of Twitter handles that spoke in real time with the authority of the armed forces of the United States? At any given moment, perhaps during a natural disaster or a terrorist attack, Pentagon Twitter accounts might send out false information. As each tweet corroborated another, and covert Russian agents amplified the messages even further afield, the result could be panic and confusion.

[steatopygia]

@davidm

This is frightening.

Russia's US Social Media Hacking: Inside the Information War | TIME

Interesting …

 From davidm's link.

“In one case last year, senior intelligence officials tell TIME, a Russian soldier based in Ukraine successfully infiltrated a U.S. social media group by pretending to be a 42-year-old American housewife and weighing in on political debates with specially tailored messages.”

Hmmm…

We shouldn’t be worrying about trolls so much as Russian trolls nyet?

[davidm]

@steatopygia

Interesting …

 From davidm's link.

“In one case last year, senior intelligence officials tell TIME, a Russian soldier based in Ukraine successfully infiltrated a U.S. social media group by pretending to be a 42-year-old American housewife and weighing in on political debates with specially tailored messages.”

Hmmm…

We shouldn’t be worrying about trolls so much as Russian trolls nyet?

I’m pretty sure we’ve had at least one here. I think he’s been banned. I wish I could remember his name.

While that’s a concern, the part that’s a frightening revelation to me is that Russian operatives may be able to take over government social media accounts, and DOD accounts in particular, during a crisis. Given how people, and even the media, use Twitter feeds as news sources, the implications are troubling.

[steatopygia]

So we call them out on it, as we are starting to now. They deny and at the same time accuse us of the same.

What is the answer?
Sanctions?
Better tech?

Better tech may ultimately be the answer, but I think regime change and a less antagonistic Russia is also in the cards.

I mean *their *regime.

[Aspidistra]

@TIME

Now counterintelligence officials wondered: What chaos could Moscow unleash with thousands of Twitter handles that spoke in real time with the authority of the armed forces of the United States? At any given moment, perhaps during a natural disaster or a terrorist attack, Pentagon Twitter accounts might send out false information. As each tweet corroborated another, and covert Russian agents amplified the messages even further afield, the result could be panic and confusion.

Isn’t it good that we’re already getting practise in living with the reality of garbage information coming out of government officials’ Twitter accounts?

I’m only half joking…

[Drunky_Smurf]

@steatopygia

but I think regime change and a less antagonistic Russia is also in the cards.

I mean *their *regime.

So you are pro-meddling in other countries elections? Russia is saying we already do that.

Russia Accuses U.S. of Influencing Local Elections

[davidm]

@Drunky_Smurf

So you are pro-meddling in other countries elections? Russia is saying we already do that.

U.S. 'Propaganda' Influenced Russian Elections, Putin's Party Claims - Newsweek

And I’m sure that we also spy on them. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to stop them from spying on us. Same with political interference.

I suppose that could be seen as hypocritical, but it’s the way of the world. Everybody does such things and everyone tries to defend themselves against it.