Cyberattacks As A Factor Shaping The Information Landscape In Cyberspace

In the contemporary era, sophisticated technical capabilities are employed for the acquisition, analysis, and storage of substantial quantities of data, signifying a transition from emphasis on quality to that on quantity – a pivotal aspect of the big data era. The term "big data" is used to describe extensive, dynamic datasets that are characterised by high variability and a rapid data flow (generated and recorded continuously and processed in real time). These datasets require the use of advanced tools that extend beyond the capabilities of traditional relational databases and spreadsheets. In the context of the information society, data can be considered to be analogous to the material inputs, raw materials, or fuels that powered industrial innovation. The interconnected world, growth of mobile information and communication devices – especially smart products like phones and watches – and the saturation of various objects with Internet-enabled sensors and gauges (e.g. wearable technologies and the Internet of Thingsconcept) facilitate the collection and automatic capture of diverse data. In addition to deliberate and conscious data collection, modern analytics, including those related to business, society, and culture, increasingly rely on the automatic acquisition of a wide array of information from both natural and social environments. This includes digital traces left by individuals. The vast majority of aspects of reality are now represented as data, which is aggregated, processed, and subject to algorithmisation and datafication. The prevailing view is to quantify and record all aspects of the world, not just for planned processes, but also proactively due to the potential for repurposing collected data beyond the original scope of acquisition.

In conclusion, the advancement of technology has rendered the development and acquisition of information nearly limitless. What was previously accessible only to a select few, has now become widely accessible to the average global citizen. However, this expanded access to information, which was previously confined to individuals and organisations that were aware of its strategic importance, now gives rise to a number of risks in relation to the manner in which information is conveyed. In essence, the simplicity of access, the rapid increase, and the limited control over information flows make it increasingly challenging to safeguard. This issue is complex, as information is inherently tied to national interests and citizens' activities. Key sectors, such as energy, public administration, defence, and media, demonstrate the broad scope of this phenomenon, with overlapping boundaries justifying its growing importance and complexity.

Read more