Security News > 2022 > February > CISA warns of hybrid operations threat to US critical infrastructure

CISA warns of hybrid operations threat to US critical infrastructure
2022-02-19 15:00

CISA urged leaders of U.S. critical infrastructure organizations on Friday to increase their orgs' resilience against a growing risk of being targeted by foreign influence operations using misinformation, disinformation, and malformation tactics.

"Multiple influence operations coordinated by foreign actors had an impact on US critical services and functions across critical sectors," according to the cybersecurity agency.

"Current social factors-including heightened polarization and the ongoing global pandemic-increase the risk and potency of influence operations to U.S. critical infrastructure," CISA warned.

The federal agency cautioned that the current tensions between Russia and Ukraine are behind an increased risk of influence operations that could directly impact National Critical Functions and critical infrastructure orgs.

"In light of developing Russia-Ukraine geopolitical tensions, the risk of foreign influence operations affecting domestic audiences has increased," CISA added [PDF].

"Recently observed foreign influence operations abroad demonstrate that foreign governments and related actors have the capability to quickly employ sophisticated influence techniques to target U.S. audiences with the goal to disrupt U.S. critical infrastructure and undermine U.S. interests and authorities."


News URL

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-warns-of-hybrid-operations-threat-to-us-critical-infrastructure/