Elements of Social Engineering Methodology Used During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Authors: Oleksandr Trukhachov

Title variants

PL

Elementy metodologii inżynierii społecznej stosowane podczas pandemii COVID-19

Abstracts

PL

Artykuł koncentruje się na elementach inżynierii społecznej (SI) wykorzystywanych przez poszczególne państwa we własnym interesie podczas pandemii COVID-19. Elementy te wykorzystano do kształtowania negatywnej opinii publicznej, zmiany krajobrazu politycznego i zmniejszenia zaufania obywateli do własnych rządów. Zaliczają się do nich wpływ i perswazja. Tradycyjne media i sieci społecznościowe odgrywają główną rolę w wykorzystaniu tych elementów SI. SI ma długą historię studiów teoretycznych jako zjawiska naukowego. Praktyczne elementy SI mają duży arsenał, od narzędzi rządowych po metody wpływania na jednostki. Celem artykułu jest wykazanie wykorzystania elementów SI, wpływu i perswazji przez zainteresowane państwa i rządy w celu uzyskania określonych preferencji zarówno dla polityki zagranicznej, jak i wewnętrznej.

EN

The article focuses on elements of social engineering (SI) that could be used by the states in their own interests during the COVID-19 pandemic. These elements were used to form negative public opinion, change the political landscape, and reduce citizens’ trust in their own governments. These elements are influence and persuasion. Traditional media and social networks play a major role in the use of these SI elements. SI has a long history of theoretical study as a scientific phenomenon. Practical elements of SI have a large arsenal, from government tools to influencing individuals. The article aims to demonstrate using SI elements, influence, and persuasion by the interested states and governments to obtain certain preferences for both foreign and domestic policies.

Keywords

EN

social engineering; information and computer technology; COVID-19 pandemic; influence; persuasion of traditional media; social networks; media exploitation

PL

socjotechnika; technologia informatyczna i komputerowa; pandemia COVID-19; wpływ; perswazja mediów tradycyjnych; sieci społecznościowe; eksploatacja mediów

• Publisher: Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
• Journal: Środkowoeuropejskie Studia Polityczne
• Year: 2021
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 5-18

Dates

published

2021

Contributors

author

Oleksandr Trukhachov

• Uniwersytet KROK w Kijowie

• https://orcid.org/0000000168683328

References

• EEAS SPECIAL REPORT: Disinformation on the coronavirus – short assessment of the information environment EU, EUvsDiSiNFO, March 19, 2020, https://euvsdisinfo.eu/eeas-special-report-disinformation-on-the-coronavirus-short-assessment-of-the-informationenvironment/?highlight=01%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%202020, 15.05.2021.
• EEAS SPECIAL REPORT UPDATE: Short assessment of narratives and disinformation around of the COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, EUvsDiSiNFO, update 2–22 aprile, https://euvsdisinfo.eu/eeas-special-report-update-2-22-april/?highlight=01%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%202020, 21.05.2021.
• European Council Declaration by the High Representative Josep Borrell, on behalf of the European Union, on malicious cyber activities exploiting the coronavirus pandemic, 30.04.2020, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/04/30/declaration-by-the-high-representative-josep-borrell-on-behalf-of-the-european-union-on-malicious-cyber-activities-exploiting-the-coronavirus-pandemic/, 01.05.2021.
• European Medical Agency (EMA) Cyberattack on EMA, update 5 News 15.01.2021, https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/cyberattack-ema-update-5, 22.05.2021.
• Exploitation. Mind. Oxford learners’ dictionaries, https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/exploitation?q=exploitation, 20.06. 2021.
• Guardian Coronavirus could be final straw for EU, European experts warn, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/01/coronavirus-could-be-final-straw-for-eu-european-experts-warn01.04.2020, 31.05.2021.
• How Facebook can Flatten the Curve of the Coronavirus Infodemic, Study indicates Facebook is rife with bogus cures and conspiracy theories that remain on the platform long enough to put millions of people at risk, AVAAZ, April 15, 2020, https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/facebook_coronavirus_misinformation/, 23.05.2021.
• Mann I. (2008), Hacking the Human. Social Engineering Techniques and Security Countermeasures.
• Hadnagy Chr. (2011), Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking, Indianapolis.
• Hadnagy Chr. (2014), Unmasking the Social Engineer: The Human Element of Security, Indianapolis.
• Oxford learners’ dictionaries. Meaning of exploitation, https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/exploitation?q=exploitation, 20.06.2021.
• Pocheptsov H. (2019), (Des) information, Kyiv.
• Popper C. (1966) The open society and its enemies, vol, 1 THE SPELL OF PLATO, London–Henley.
• Persuasion, Mind, Oxford learners dictionaries, https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/persuasion_1?q=persuasion, 20.06.2021.
• Statement on the Occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, Federal Foreign Office, 3.05.2020, https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/newsroom/news/world-press-freedom-day/2338390.
• Tolman H. W. (1909), Social engineering, New York.
• Willemo J., Trends and Developments in the Malicious Use of Social Media (StratComCo), 19th August 2019, https://stratcomcoe.org/publications/trends-and-developments-in-the-malicious-use-of-social-media/81, 15.05.2021.
• Zarembo K., Life after the disaster: how the pandemic changed the political mood of Italians, “Evropeyskay Pravda”, 13.05.2020, https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/rus/articles/2020/05/13/7109708/, 24.05.2021.

Identifiers

DOI

10.14746/ssp.2021.4.1

Biblioteka Nauki

2007323