Information Warfare in Slovenia – from Traditional Local to Global Cyber Space

Abstract

Namen prispevka: Opozoriti želimo na tveganja, ki so jim izpostavljeni vsi informacijski sistemi in jih prinaša informacijsko bojevanje. Z razvojem sodobne informacijskokomunikacijske tehnologije (v nadaljevanju IKT) je vojaško, politično, gospodarsko in ideološko motivirano bojevanje pridobilo popolnoma nove razsežnosti in nevarnosti, čeprav se njene resnosti marsikatera država še vedno ne zaveda. Zaradi anonimnosti, možnosti dostopanja z oddaljene lokacije in zakrivanja izvora napada, storilci svoje cilje dosegajo lažje in hitreje, kot je to bilo mogoče pred razvojem spleta in informacijske tehnologije. To je omogočilo razvoj in prenos informacijskega bojevanja na različna družbena področja. Ker pa so tehnike informacijskega bojevanja postale primerljive z ostalo (klasično) računalniško kriminaliteto, je kompleksnost problematike še toliko širša. Resnost in nevarnost tovrstne grožnje prikazujemo skozi primere. S predstavitvijo trenutne zakonske ureditve v Sloveniji pa želimo prikazati neustrezno normativno podlago za delo organov pregona. Trenutna zakonska ureditev omogoča stanje, v katerih je primere informacijskega bojevanja lažje vršiti kot preganjati. Metode: Podan je pregled definicij informacijskega bojevanja v strokovni literaturi. Na podlagi analize definicij je predlagana konkretna in natančnejša opredelitev pojava informacijskega bojevanja. Kratko so predstavljeni nekateri primeri kibernetskih napadov, ki potrjujejo obstoj tovrstne grožnje. Analizirana je aktualna zakonodaja v Republiki Sloveniji. Na podlagi ugotovljenih slabosti so podani utemeljeni predlogi za izboljšave zakonodaje. Ugotovitve: Temeljna ugotovitev prispevka je, da se je (informacijsko) bojevanje, kot tradicionalni način doseganja ciljev, z razvojem sodobne IKT razširilo v vse sfere družbenega življenja, skladno s tem pa so se spremenile tudi njegove tehnike delovanja. Kibernetsko okolje je tej grožnji omogočilo neobvladljivo širjenje, kar je povzročilo novo globalno/transnacionalno tveganje za države in organizacije. Gospodarstvo, kritična infrastruktura, politični odnosi in svetovni mir so tista temeljna področja, ki jih informacijsko bojevanje želi kompromitirati. Kot kaže trenutno stanje normativne ureditve informacijskega bojevanja, so na nacionalni ravni naše države pomanjkanje politične volje, nerazumevanje in ravnodušnost temeljni atributi, ki omogočajo obstoj in razvoj informacijskega bojevanja. Na ravni svetovnih velesil in mednarodnih organizacij pa gre, zaradi zavedanja in uporabe prednosti tovrstnega bojevanja, za poskus ohranjanja neurejenega stanja, saj z informacijskim bojevanjem napadajo normativno ureditev. Izvirnost/pomembnost prispevka: Izvirna vrednost prispevka je opredelitev informacijskega bojevanja. Poleg tega pa je pomemben tudi prikaz narave informacijskega bojevanja na primerih in stanje normativne ureditve. Slednje je glavni zaviralec za preprečevanje opisane problematike.Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to security risks to information systems which confront every country and organization – the risk in question is information warfare. Development of modern information communication technology has led us to the situation in which politically, economically and ideologically motivated warfare has gained a completely new dimension and constitutes new dangers, but many countries still don’t acknowledge its presence. Anonymity, the possibility of accessing information from distant locations, and the possibility of concealing the source of the attack are enabling perpetrators to achieve their vicious goals much easier and faster than before the development of the Internet and information technology in general. Development made it possible for information warfare to spread to different social spheres. The complexity of this modern threat has become much more worrisome, because techniques of information warfare have became comparable with other (classic) computer crimes. We would like to demonstrate the gravity and danger of this threat through practical examples and present the current legal regulation of this issue in Slovenia. The current Slovenian legislation creates conditions in which it is easier to commit information warfare than prosecute it. Design/Methods/Approach: In forming a definition of information warfare, we used a comparative method. We carried out a comparison of different written sources published abroad. For better understanding the nature of modern warfare, we presented some practical examples. An understanding of the legislation in the Republic of Slovenia in reference to these issues was acquired through a thorough study and comparison of Slovenian legal acts. Findings: The main finding of this paper is that information warfare, which was used in the past for military purposes, has now (with the development of modern technology) spread into every area of society. Simultaneously the techniques of information warfare have also changed. Cyber space allowed information warfare to extend uncontrollably, and this resulted in the birth of new transnational and global threats to all countries and organizations. Economies, crucial national infrastructure, political relations and world peace are the main areas that information warfare tries to compromise. The current legislation, at the national and global levels, reflects, that a lack of political will, incomprehension and apathy are the major factors which allow information warfare to exist and develop. Originality/Value: The originality of this paper is in the suggested definition of information warfare, and further in the presentation of the nature of this specific threat through practical examples and an overview of the relevant legislature, which is the main obstacle in the prevention of this type of criminality