The use of cybertools in an internationalized civil war context: Cyber activities in the Syrian conflict

Author(s): Marie Baezner, Patrice Robin
Series: CSS Cyber Defense Hotspot Analysis
Volume: 0
Issue: 5
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich
Publication Year: 2017

The conflict in Syria developed from civilian protests against the government in 2011 to a civil war. The hostilities were not limited to the physical realm, but also took place in cyberspace. The goal of this report is to understand the mechanisms of the use of cybertools in the context of a civil war. It examines the various actors, tools and targets observed during the conflict. It analyzes the effects of cyber activities on the Syrian society, the economy, technology. The Hotspot Analysis also looks at the internationalization of the conflict through the use of the internet and the fact that cyber activities always remained of low intensity. Finally, the report suggests some recommendations for states to implement to reduce the risks of similar attacks.

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