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Russian Information Warfare: Assault on Democracies in the Cyber Wild West
The book analyzes how the Russian government uses cyber operations, disinformation, protests, assassinations, coup d'états, and perhaps even explosions to destroy democracies from within, and what the United States and other NATO countries can do to defend themselves from Russia's onslaught.
292 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2022
About the author
Bilyana Lilly
3 books4 followersDr. Bilyana Lilly is a cybersecurity expert and an adjunct researcher at the RAND Corporation. Dr. Lilly helps clients to detect and respond to ransomware threats and information warfare. Bilyana led a team that developed a threat-based risk assessment framework to prioritize vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure which the U.S. Department of Homeland Security now uses in all 50 states. She is a speaker at DefCon, CyCon, Executive Women's Forum, and the Warsaw Security Forum, and the author of two books and a dozen publications, translated in Russian and Chinese. Dr. Lilly has been cited in the Wall Street Journal, Foreign Policy and ZDNet and has been denounced by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Lilly has a Ph.D. from Pardee RAND Graduate School, and master’s degrees from Oxford University (distinction) in England and the Graduate Institute in Switzerland.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 4, 2022
As the head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Colonel-general A.V. Kartopolov remarked on April 15, 2015, “if in the past war was 80 percent combat operations, and propaganda was 20 percent, then in wars today 90 percent of activities consist of information warfare.”--------------------------------------
Russia’s information warfare is sustained and unceasing, and, therefore, so should be our defenses.In George Orwell’s 1984 there are three super-states, Oceania (North and South America, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa), Eurasia (The Soviet Union and Europe), and Eastasia (China, Japan, Korea, northern India). While the boundaries of the superstates have not come to pass quite as Orwell imagined, one could easily see similarities in the power centers of 2021, with China atop Eastasia, Russia atop Eurasia (without Western Europe, of course, although that is becoming a bit squishy), and the USA atop Oceania. One of the elements of Orwell’s if-this-goes-on imagined dystopia was a state of perpetual war.
Bilyana Lily - image from Warsaw Security Forum
There is plenty of incentive for those in charge of societies to sustain a war-based economy, whether or not actual wars are fought. War has always been pretty lucrative for some business interests, and offers cover for those in power to attack dissenters as unpatriotic. It has been the case for as long as there have been nations that countries will spy on and seek to manipulate other countries for their own benefit and/or protection. The tools for doing this are diverse, including spying, diplomacy, seeking to impact elections, and the more kinetic special ops, targeted assassinations, and actual tanks-and-planes attacks. But the range of available tools has grown considerably in the last generation. The means for gaining insight into,and of manipulating, the leaders and populations of other countries have become widely available. One result of this is the realization of one of Orwell’s dark visions, albeit in a different form. Russia, under Vladimir Putin, has been engaged in a ceaseless war on other nations for a long time. This warfare does not always entail the use of heavy machinery. It was not tanks that impacted the 2016 presidential election in the USA. It was new, diabolical, and effective weapons of mass communication. The internet, with its social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and countless lesser applications, has made everyone accessible, and vulnerable.
Moscow’s attempts to sow popular distrust in governance would not stop after the elections, which are only one event, but would continue after the elections when Russia may attempt to exploit socially divisive themes that could increase suspicion in democratic institutions. And drive communities further apart.Dr. Bilyana Lily has been looking at this for some time. Born in Bulgaria, she has seen Russian actions from a perspective shared by few general readers. She earned a Masters degree from Geneva Graduate School, in International Relations and Affairs, got another MA at Oxford University, specializing in Russian, Central European, East European and Eurasian Studies, and her PhD from Pardee RAND Graduate School. She has worked at the Bulgarian mission to the United Nations, led DoD research efforts out of RAND, designing analytical tools to predict cyber incidents, and worked on RAND’s election cybersecurity project. Oh, yeah, and she’s a paramedic. Probably has an invisible plane tucked away somewhere, too.
She defines her terms. Just what is considered Information Warfare? How does it fit within Russia’s military planning program? What are each of the actions intended to accomplish? What are the tools the Russians use? Lily selected seven attacks that met her criteria. She limited her study to publicly available information. So, no state secrets are in any danger of being revealed here. She took out of play some attacks that any reasonable person would deem to be at least partly Russia-based, but which lacked publicly accessible confirmations. She looks at what prompts Russia to act and considers differences in how it goes about its operations.
Several chapters of the book are about process. Here is what I am doing. Here are the things I am looking at and the things I am ignoring. Part of this is to talk about a tool she has developed for presenting the gathered information in a graphical format. It could come in handy if you need to update your boss, who is averse to reading. I know, hard to imagine. It may be of considerable use to Intelligence Community (IC) workers, but really, for the rest of us, that element of the book is skippable. It makes for slow, tough reading.
Chapter 1, however, on how Russia sees the world, and thus justifies their actions, is fascinating. It explains a lot. Russian leaders tend to the paranoid and are blind to their own crimes, and the legitimate security concerns of other nations. They see, for example, the bombing of Yugoslavia, the Afghanistan invasion by NATO, the Iraq wars and the operations in Libya as all illegitimate US led attempts at regime change. But Libya was not US-led. If anything, the USA was dragged into that. Afghanistan was the result of 9/11. The first Gulf war came about after Iraq invaded its neighbors, and the West got involved in the former Yugoslavia to prevent Serbian genocide of its neighbors. I guess everything the West does is bad and everything Russia does is ok. They do feel outgunned by the West, though, so feel justified in utilizing asymmetric tactics against their perceived enemies.
Lily uses seven case studies of Russian info warfare. Therein lies the strength of this book. Bet you recognize in the actions taken against other nations many of the actions taken by Russia against the USA. And it will make you very suspicious about the behavior of many on the far right as to exactly what relationships they have with Putin’s Russia. Who is “Q” for example? Personally, I would bet that Q is either a Russian him or herself, was paid for by Russia, or at the bare minimum, was trained and/or advised by Russia. Moscow seeks to foment discord in states it wants to impact. This does not cease when agreements are arrived at over this or that. It does not cease when guns are put down in a conflict here or there. Warfare for Russia is a permanent state. They are always trying to pit group against group, whether in the USA, France, Germany, or any other nation which has interests that clash with Russia’s.
…this book analyzes under what conditions, in what contexts, and in what combinations with other nonmilitary and military measures Russia has employed certain types of cyber operations. In particular, this book explores what conditions have been associated with the employment of various types of Russian state-sponsored cyber operations against political IT infrastructure of NATO countries and invited members.Lily arrives at some conclusions about what the parameters are that define what Russia will do, and how far it will go. For some countries, this and then that. For other countries, only this. And it looks at what Russia hopes to accomplish with various actions. In some cases, there is hardcore spying involved, assassinations, bombings, concerted attempts to disrupt electoral systems, for example. But in others, Russia acts merely to undermine people’s confidence in electoral systems, or the viability of target governments.
If we had paid more attention to Russian military doctrine, we could have been better prepared for what happened in 2016. [in Russia’s attack on the USA election] - from the JSOU presentationGripes - When I was in graduate school, a professor once said that the standard format for reports to be submitted, not only in his class, but in the jobs we were training for, was 1) Say what it is you are going to say 2) Say it, and then 3) Say what it is you have just said. Lily follows this formula not only for the overall book, but within each chapter. It makes life particularly easy for those looking to speed read their way through this, but for those of us who insist on reading every word, that element was a bit of a chore. It reads as a very academic paper. No problem for folks in the field, but off-putting to the more casual reader. While it is understandable that Lilly restricts her case studies to those with publicly provable Russian connections, I was yearning for her to go a bit beyond, and incorporate looks at instances in which it is plain what is going on, despite there not being public proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Not gripes - Clearly explaining Russia’s motivation and world view. Read these case studies and you will recognize much that is going on all around us, get a sense of how Russia goes about manipulating populations. Breaking down the methods, aims, and impacts lets one talk about information warfare in specific, rather than general terms, and thereby consider actions that target individual elements for ways to defend.
It is often the case that analytical books that delve into political or social problems offer excellent insight, but fall short when it comes to offering real-world solutions. One can look at successes that targeted nations have had in beating back or preventing Russian Info attacks, and seek to apply those best practices across the board, for NATO nations in particular. Thankfully, some of Lilly’s advice seems doable.
She recommends that states should make public more of the information on cyber operations and actors directed against them, to help understand Russia’s playbook. There are benefits to be had beyond that as we saw recently, when President Biden publicly outed Russia’s plan to fake attacks on Russians and blame Ukraine, as a justification for their invasion. She also recommends transparency in political party funding sources. This really is a no-brainer, but the reality is that it is currently, and for the foreseeable future will remain, a non-starter federally in the USA where so many of those in charge of making the laws benefit directly from that very secrecy. She also recommends federal funding of cyber-awareness training for state and local campaigns. I can certainly see this meeting resistance from those legislators who might benefit from external interference in our elections. It might have a chance in individual states as a state program. There are more. It is a mixed bag, containing no silver bullet. The inherent conflicts of interest will keep the USA vulnerable. At this point we have to rely on the IC and the Department of Defense to fend off the gravest attacks. Clearly, relying on the moral concerns of companies like Facebook and Twitter (is it owned yet by dodgy-human Elon Musk?) is a sure cure for any feeling of security.
Lilly may not have all the solutions, but she has gone a very long way in identifying the problems, at least as far as Russia goes, pointing out what is likely, and under what circumstances, and letting us know where such attacks have failed and why. In the larger sense, she has made it very clear that Russian military policy contains a drive to ongoing information warfare. If you want to understand how Russia seeks to undermine Western democracies, see the techniques they use, and understand their fondness for using local allies, or puppets, Russian Information Warfare is a must read.
For Russia a particularly useful way to keep the West, or Russia’s enemies in general at bay, is to wage an information-based assault on them all, constantly. Why take casualties when you can achieve your objectives by conducting daily operations on the sly. Orwell would recognize the notion. For Russia, permanent War is Peace.
Information warfare is applied through strategic media messaging disseminated through all media channels that reach the population of the targeted country. The aggressive party uses information technologies to engage public institutions in the targeted country, such as mass media, religions institutions, NGOs, cultural institutions, and public movements receiving foreign financing. To further help the demoralization of the population and ensure chaos, the adversary targets the disillusioned population and infiltrates these groups with provocateurs. Disinformation, or deliberate falsification of events, can also be considered among the principal information warfare components.
Review posted – April 15, 2022
Publication date – September 15, 2022
I received an EPUB ARE of Russian Information Warfare from The U.S. Naval Institute in return for a fair review and agreeing not to give away any state secrets. Thanks, folks. And thanks to NetGalley for facilitating.
This review has been cross-posted on my site, Coot’s Reviews. Stop by and say Hi!
An aside: I received a NetGalley EPUB ARE of this book in March, 2022. As noted above it is not due for publication until September, 2022. In the normal course of events, I would have waited to read and review it until much nearer the pub date. But given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it seemed important to push this one to the head of the line. It may not yet be available for sale, but if you are interested, I suggest checking NetGalley for a possible early look.
=============================EXTRA STUFF
Lilly’s FB and Twitter pages
From the U.S. Naval Institute:
Denounced by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Bilyana Lilly managed projects on ransomware, cyber threat intelligence, AI, disinformation, and information warfare. She was a cyber expert for the RAND Corporation and has spoken at DefCon, CyCon, the Executive Women's Forum and the Warsaw Security Forum. Dr. Lilly is the author of over a dozen peer-reviewed publications and has been cited in the Wall Street Journal, Foreign Policy and ZDNet.Interview
-----The Office of Strategic Engagement – Think JSOU - Interview with Dr. Bilyana Lilly by Lieutenant Colonel Mitch Wander – this is really more of a staged Q/A to enable Lilly to talk about her material. It is very informative, but with a particularly stiff question-reading by Wander. – This is the only one you will need.
Item of Interest from the author
-----International Committee of the Red Cross - Intercross - THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ABM TREATY: MISSILE DEFENSE AND THE U.S.-RUSSIA RELATIONSHIP - 1:20:42 – Lilly is a panel member discussing James Cameron’s book The Double Game
Items of Interest
-----NY times – 3/4/2022 - I’ve Dealt With Foreign Cyberattacks. America Isn’t Ready for What’s Coming. By Glenn S. Gerstell
-----NY Times – 11/12/2018 - Operation InfeKtion - Russian disinformation: From Cold War to Kanye by Adam B. Ellick and Adam Westbrook – a three-part video series
-----The Guardian – 3/5/20922 - Ukrainians around the world aren’t just protesting –we’re fighting an information war by Jane Lytvynenko
-----Lockheed Martin - Cyber Kill Chain
-----National Technical Reports Library – 2017 - Defense Science Board (DSB) Task Force on Cyber Deterrence -you can download the report
Although progress is being made to reduce the pervasive cyber vulnerabilities of U.S. critical infrastructure, the unfortunate reality is that, for at least the next decade, the offensive cyber capabilities of our most capable adversaries are likely to far exceed the United States’ ability to defend key critical infrastructures. The U.S. military itself has a deep and extensive dependence on information technology as well, creating a massive attack surface.-----NY Times – 3/18/22 - Why You Haven’t Heard About the Secret Cyberwar in Ukraine by Thomas Rid
-----AP - Ukraine says potent Russian hack against power grid thwarted by Frank Bajak
-----NY Times - U.S. and Ukrainian Groups Pierce Putin’s Propaganda Bubble By Julian E. Barnes and Edward Wong
February 28, 2022
This book is essential reading to understand the trucker convoys, the war against Ukraine, Russian interference in the 2016 election and so much more. The first few chapters are meticulously detailed, making it a challenge to read but I urge you to persevere because it's worth it and it really picks up a few chapters in. With cold and well-documented precision, Lily outlines the chess pieces Russia has put into place to gain information and cause social disruption and polarization in the western world. If you only read one book this year, it should be this one. We all need to understand Russia's slick methods of undermining our democracies.
#netgalley #russia
#netgalley #russia
March 23, 2022
This book puts in the spotlight known cyber operations against political infrastructures attributed to the Russian government. These few examples underline the ongoing evolution of the different techniques used world while along the last fifteen years. In all certainty, this is just the minuscule tip of the iceberg. And even though the main goal of the research is to look for patterns, its information is enlightening and helpful to the layperson for having a broad understanding of how the cyber warfare has worked until now. And more importantly, this work can be very useful as a prevention tool, in order to be watchful and foresee disinformation.
I would like to stand out that although the opening chapters may seem a bit tough because the author explains in detail the methodology and goals of her research, the central chapters up to the end of the book are worth the effort.
I would like to stand out that although the opening chapters may seem a bit tough because the author explains in detail the methodology and goals of her research, the central chapters up to the end of the book are worth the effort.
February 17, 2022
I haven't learned so much from one book in such a long time. I feel like this is one of the most relevant and eyeopening books that I could have currently read. There is a lot that has been written, in my view, on the state of Russia or of Vladimir Putin, but nothing that analyzes its foreign policy, strategy, and grand narrative. This work stands in a class of its own.
I really appreciated the case study approach, each chapter being a different circumstance describing the methods, depth and success of Russian interference into other countries operations. While the common reader or news follower might see Russian maneuvering around Ukraine as just part of Putin's bullying or authoritarian behavior, I always think that to combat those behaviors, an accurate understanding of motive is needed. This is what Lilly brings to the table in Russian Information Warfare. It really is about securing Russia and its fanatical view of NATO as a threat. To be clear, I am not justifying Putin's actions, nor does the book. However, when reading about all of these events, I have always wondered: "Why? What's in it for them?" Why meddle in US elections, other than to support a particular candidate? Why get involved in France's elections? The answers are here, and it is very enlightening.
I really appreciate that the author also includes instances where Russia has not been as successful. It seems that being one step ahead of them is key, if we're thinking about this from a rivalry standpoint. That is to say, there is a way to resist it and to prevent it, rather than just accept the fact that Russia will manipulate information and cross one's fingers.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in global affairs or wanting to better understand Russia's motives in why it is doing what its doing, and how states can respond.
I really appreciated the case study approach, each chapter being a different circumstance describing the methods, depth and success of Russian interference into other countries operations. While the common reader or news follower might see Russian maneuvering around Ukraine as just part of Putin's bullying or authoritarian behavior, I always think that to combat those behaviors, an accurate understanding of motive is needed. This is what Lilly brings to the table in Russian Information Warfare. It really is about securing Russia and its fanatical view of NATO as a threat. To be clear, I am not justifying Putin's actions, nor does the book. However, when reading about all of these events, I have always wondered: "Why? What's in it for them?" Why meddle in US elections, other than to support a particular candidate? Why get involved in France's elections? The answers are here, and it is very enlightening.
I really appreciate that the author also includes instances where Russia has not been as successful. It seems that being one step ahead of them is key, if we're thinking about this from a rivalry standpoint. That is to say, there is a way to resist it and to prevent it, rather than just accept the fact that Russia will manipulate information and cross one's fingers.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in global affairs or wanting to better understand Russia's motives in why it is doing what its doing, and how states can respond.
April 5, 2022
I started reading this book about four weeks into the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, making this quite the timely read. Unless you have been living under a rock, Russia has been firmly placed into a perpetual adversarial role in the media for a while now, and especially since 2016. While I feel that certain politicians want to use them as some sort of 1984 forever enemy (“Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia”), Vladimir Putin and his regime do not really help matters with how they handle foreign policy in any way whatsoever. The controversial book by Aleksandr Dugin, Foundations of Geopolitics (which you all should read about, it’s somewehat scary) basically echoes everything Russia has done in the past twenty years to destabilize The West, and a book like today’s topic – Russian Information Warfare – Assault on Democracies in the Cyber Wild West by Bilyana Lilly is a heavily documented record of those policies in action.
“Russian Information Warfare: Assault on Democracies in the Cyber Wild West examines how Moscow tries to trample the very principles on which democracies are founded and what we can do to stop it. In particular, the book analyzes how the Russian government uses cyber operations, disinformation, protests, assassinations, coup d’états, and perhaps even explosions to destroy democracies from within, and what the United States and other NATO countries can do to defend themselves from Russia’s onslaught.”
You can take the information in this book and apply it to things like the rise of extreme right-wing Facebook groups, trucker convoys, Twitter astroturfing campaigns, and the spread of conspiracy theories that collectively plagued social media from 2016-2020 – ironically rendering an entire generation of people, that lived through the entirety of The Cold War, unwitting Russian assets. As someone far outside the State Department Intelligence Bureaus, it seems to the layman that these destabilization efforts have “mysteriously” slowed to a crawl ever since Russia invaded Ukraine. One can assume the war is diverting resources away from these projects in the broader world at large. This is something I have tried to explain to people for a long time, especially those that easily fall for conspiratorial content on social media. I somewhat feel vindicated after reading this book and witnessing the Russian espionage industry disappear overnight after February 24, 2022.
The gist of this book is that the author analyzed and collected most known and suspected Russian espionage/destabilization efforts from around 2006 to 2020. The author details attacks on various neighboring countries such as Estonia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, as well as more brazen attacks and information warfare campaigns on the United States and the United Kingdom. Each chapter goes into heavy detail on all of the whos and whys regarding each attack, and grants the reader a fairly firm idea of exactly what Russia is up to and why they are doing what they are doing. The beginning of the book lays out the book’s parameters and methodology and can be a bit of a slog, but once the chapters regarding the attacks get going the book becomes quite interesting. It’s not a long read, but it is VERY densely packed with information.
Overall, this is a well done highly researched book. The foundations here are definitely more of an academic paper turned into a full-on book (as the author states), but once you get going it is a great read. Like I stated before, I suspected a lot of this was going on, but sadly had to parse information together through a highly politicized media lense (the US in the last decade) – having a cohesive book on this topic that strives to be somewhat impartial is a godsend and does a lot to help the layman understand exactly what is happening in Europe right now and what Russia seemingly went to war with Ukraine “on a whim”. As you will find out, things like that are all according to plan and the way Russia plans to carry out their foreign policy, assuming regime change doesn’t occur. Russian Information Warfare – Assault on Democracies in the Cyber Wild West by Bilyana Lilly comes out this fall from the US naval Institute, do yourself a favor and check it out as it is quite eye-opening.
“Russian Information Warfare: Assault on Democracies in the Cyber Wild West examines how Moscow tries to trample the very principles on which democracies are founded and what we can do to stop it. In particular, the book analyzes how the Russian government uses cyber operations, disinformation, protests, assassinations, coup d’états, and perhaps even explosions to destroy democracies from within, and what the United States and other NATO countries can do to defend themselves from Russia’s onslaught.”
You can take the information in this book and apply it to things like the rise of extreme right-wing Facebook groups, trucker convoys, Twitter astroturfing campaigns, and the spread of conspiracy theories that collectively plagued social media from 2016-2020 – ironically rendering an entire generation of people, that lived through the entirety of The Cold War, unwitting Russian assets. As someone far outside the State Department Intelligence Bureaus, it seems to the layman that these destabilization efforts have “mysteriously” slowed to a crawl ever since Russia invaded Ukraine. One can assume the war is diverting resources away from these projects in the broader world at large. This is something I have tried to explain to people for a long time, especially those that easily fall for conspiratorial content on social media. I somewhat feel vindicated after reading this book and witnessing the Russian espionage industry disappear overnight after February 24, 2022.
The gist of this book is that the author analyzed and collected most known and suspected Russian espionage/destabilization efforts from around 2006 to 2020. The author details attacks on various neighboring countries such as Estonia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, as well as more brazen attacks and information warfare campaigns on the United States and the United Kingdom. Each chapter goes into heavy detail on all of the whos and whys regarding each attack, and grants the reader a fairly firm idea of exactly what Russia is up to and why they are doing what they are doing. The beginning of the book lays out the book’s parameters and methodology and can be a bit of a slog, but once the chapters regarding the attacks get going the book becomes quite interesting. It’s not a long read, but it is VERY densely packed with information.
Overall, this is a well done highly researched book. The foundations here are definitely more of an academic paper turned into a full-on book (as the author states), but once you get going it is a great read. Like I stated before, I suspected a lot of this was going on, but sadly had to parse information together through a highly politicized media lense (the US in the last decade) – having a cohesive book on this topic that strives to be somewhat impartial is a godsend and does a lot to help the layman understand exactly what is happening in Europe right now and what Russia seemingly went to war with Ukraine “on a whim”. As you will find out, things like that are all according to plan and the way Russia plans to carry out their foreign policy, assuming regime change doesn’t occur. Russian Information Warfare – Assault on Democracies in the Cyber Wild West by Bilyana Lilly comes out this fall from the US naval Institute, do yourself a favor and check it out as it is quite eye-opening.
July 18, 2024
"Russian Information Warfare" by Dr. Bilyana Lilly offers a comprehensive examination of Russia's modern strategies in information warfare. This review examines the book’s strengths, critical insights into Russian tactics, and broader implications for global geopolitics. Although published in 2022, the book's comprehensive examination of Russia's modern strategies holds today and leaves the audience well-informed and prepared for the challenges of information warfare.
Lilly's book is structured to unpack the complex nature of Russia’s information warfare systematically. It begins with a historical context, outlining how Soviet-era propaganda techniques have evolved into sophisticated modern strategies. The book details contemporary practices, emphasizing the integration of cyber tactics, social media manipulation, and traditional propaganda. Through case studies, Dr. Lilly illustrates the effectiveness of these methods in various geopolitical arenas, including the US, Europe, and Ukraine.
Dr. Lilly’s extensive research is evident in the depth and breadth of information presented. She draws on various sources, from government documents to expert interviews, ensuring a solid foundation for her arguments. This meticulous approach gives readers a well-rounded and detailed understanding of Russian tactics and their historical roots.
One of the book’s significant strengths is the inclusion of detailed case studies. Lilly examines incidents such as the 2016 US presidential election interference and the annexation of Crimea, demonstrating how Russian information warfare tactics were deployed effectively. These real-world examples make the theoretical aspects of the book more tangible and relatable, helping readers grasp the practical implications of these strategies.
Dr. Lilly offers valuable insights into the mindset and strategic culture underpinning Russian information warfare. She explains how historical experiences, geopolitical goals, and cultural factors shape Russia's approach to information operations. This perspective is crucial for understanding Russia’s actions' motivations and predicting future strategies; it effectively argues that Russian information warfare significantly threatens global stability. By undermining trust in democratic institutions and sowing discord among allies, Russia aims to weaken its adversaries from within. The book not only highlights this threat but also emphasizes the urgent need for a coordinated international response to counter these tactics and safeguard democratic processes.
The book explores the critical role of technology, particularly social media, in modern information warfare. Dr. Lilly discusses how Russia leverages platforms like Facebook and X (Twitter) to spread disinformation and manipulate public opinion. This analysis is particularly relevant in 2024, when information spreads rapidly and widely, making it a powerful tool for state actors.
Although Dr. Lilly discusses the need for a coordinated response to Russian tactics, the book could expand on specific countermeasures and solutions. Providing concrete strategies and policy recommendations for governments and organizations would enhance the book's practical utility. Additionally, exploring successful examples of countering Russian information warfare would offer valuable lessons for readers.
The book primarily focuses on Russia, but a broader contextual analysis comparing Russian tactics with those of other state and non-state actors could provide a more holistic understanding of information warfare. This comparative approach would highlight the unique aspects of Russian strategies while situating them within the broader landscape of global information operations.
Bilyana Lilly's "Russian Information Warfare" is a well-researched and insightful book that illustrates the complexities of modern information warfare. It effectively highlights the threats posed by Russian tactics and underscores the need for a coordinated global response. Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denounced Dr. Lilly and her work, which is a valuable contribution that offers critical insights into the evolving nature of geopolitical conflict in the information age.
Lilly's book is structured to unpack the complex nature of Russia’s information warfare systematically. It begins with a historical context, outlining how Soviet-era propaganda techniques have evolved into sophisticated modern strategies. The book details contemporary practices, emphasizing the integration of cyber tactics, social media manipulation, and traditional propaganda. Through case studies, Dr. Lilly illustrates the effectiveness of these methods in various geopolitical arenas, including the US, Europe, and Ukraine.
Dr. Lilly’s extensive research is evident in the depth and breadth of information presented. She draws on various sources, from government documents to expert interviews, ensuring a solid foundation for her arguments. This meticulous approach gives readers a well-rounded and detailed understanding of Russian tactics and their historical roots.
One of the book’s significant strengths is the inclusion of detailed case studies. Lilly examines incidents such as the 2016 US presidential election interference and the annexation of Crimea, demonstrating how Russian information warfare tactics were deployed effectively. These real-world examples make the theoretical aspects of the book more tangible and relatable, helping readers grasp the practical implications of these strategies.
Dr. Lilly offers valuable insights into the mindset and strategic culture underpinning Russian information warfare. She explains how historical experiences, geopolitical goals, and cultural factors shape Russia's approach to information operations. This perspective is crucial for understanding Russia’s actions' motivations and predicting future strategies; it effectively argues that Russian information warfare significantly threatens global stability. By undermining trust in democratic institutions and sowing discord among allies, Russia aims to weaken its adversaries from within. The book not only highlights this threat but also emphasizes the urgent need for a coordinated international response to counter these tactics and safeguard democratic processes.
The book explores the critical role of technology, particularly social media, in modern information warfare. Dr. Lilly discusses how Russia leverages platforms like Facebook and X (Twitter) to spread disinformation and manipulate public opinion. This analysis is particularly relevant in 2024, when information spreads rapidly and widely, making it a powerful tool for state actors.
Although Dr. Lilly discusses the need for a coordinated response to Russian tactics, the book could expand on specific countermeasures and solutions. Providing concrete strategies and policy recommendations for governments and organizations would enhance the book's practical utility. Additionally, exploring successful examples of countering Russian information warfare would offer valuable lessons for readers.
The book primarily focuses on Russia, but a broader contextual analysis comparing Russian tactics with those of other state and non-state actors could provide a more holistic understanding of information warfare. This comparative approach would highlight the unique aspects of Russian strategies while situating them within the broader landscape of global information operations.
Bilyana Lilly's "Russian Information Warfare" is a well-researched and insightful book that illustrates the complexities of modern information warfare. It effectively highlights the threats posed by Russian tactics and underscores the need for a coordinated global response. Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denounced Dr. Lilly and her work, which is a valuable contribution that offers critical insights into the evolving nature of geopolitical conflict in the information age.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2022
This read is not for the faint of heart as it's based on the author's doctoral dissertation. It starts out with all sorts of methodology and the why's of choosing this over that for inclusion. That being said, if you are not familiar with Russia's information warfare, you will learn some interesting things such as that Russia doesn't distinguish between war and peace, and generally has the attitude of "If you are not for us, you are most certainly against us."
The first case study is the cyberattack against Estonia, done because Estonia was planning to move a statue of a Russian soldier to a less desirable place. The second is the attack against Bulgaria, a Russian ally, to try and disrupt local elections and suspected to be a practice attack for bigger things to come. Then the book goes on to explore the 2016 election in the United States where it used a Distributed Disruption technique, all the while becoming more sophisticated in its use of cyber warfare. Subsequent cases cover specific cyber attacks in Norway, Montenegro, France, Germany (Bundestag), and ends with a chapter on cross-country comparison.
This book is published by the Naval Institute by an author who received her PhD from the Pardee RAND Graduate School which is the largest public policy Ph.D. program in the nation, I'll admit that I skimmed a lot of the technical methodology to read the seven case studies, but I understand that this book is not for the lay person who just wants to be entertained. This is serious stuff that needs to be read and studied at the highest levels of government and decision-maker influencers. Good job Bilyana Lilly! I will promote this important study wherever I can.
The first case study is the cyberattack against Estonia, done because Estonia was planning to move a statue of a Russian soldier to a less desirable place. The second is the attack against Bulgaria, a Russian ally, to try and disrupt local elections and suspected to be a practice attack for bigger things to come. Then the book goes on to explore the 2016 election in the United States where it used a Distributed Disruption technique, all the while becoming more sophisticated in its use of cyber warfare. Subsequent cases cover specific cyber attacks in Norway, Montenegro, France, Germany (Bundestag), and ends with a chapter on cross-country comparison.
This book is published by the Naval Institute by an author who received her PhD from the Pardee RAND Graduate School which is the largest public policy Ph.D. program in the nation, I'll admit that I skimmed a lot of the technical methodology to read the seven case studies, but I understand that this book is not for the lay person who just wants to be entertained. This is serious stuff that needs to be read and studied at the highest levels of government and decision-maker influencers. Good job Bilyana Lilly! I will promote this important study wherever I can.
June 13, 2022
Russian Information Warfare by Bilyana Lilly is a thorough and tremendously important look at what has become perhaps the main front in Russia's constant state of warfare.
Through case studies, both deep diving into and comparing elements of each, Lilly shows how Russia has no intention, nor even a goal of, pursuing peace, they are in various stages of warfare at all times. The objects of their attacks are the western nations, primarily NATO nations that they paranoidly consider threats.
At one point I would have thought a book like this would help any country become stronger against the threat. You know, the informed citizenry argument. Unfortunately, the Republicans are also in a constant state of war with their own country, so the whole informed citizenry thing only applies to part of the country. If the GOP ever decide governing is more important than simply having power and (mis)ruling, this book will help us protect ourselves. Until then, The GOP and Russia are working together, explicitly and implicitly, so the enemy is both within and without.
The first part of the book might seem the driest but is important to establish what is and is not being assessed, in addition to how. Once you get past that, which frankly isn't too bad, the book is actually quite engaging as well as informative.
Highly recommended for anyone wanting to understand how wars will be, at least partially, fought in the future (and present). The Russians are seeking to defeat their enemies from within, they are targeting the weakest links (GOP here in the US) and leading them to asinine conclusions.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
Through case studies, both deep diving into and comparing elements of each, Lilly shows how Russia has no intention, nor even a goal of, pursuing peace, they are in various stages of warfare at all times. The objects of their attacks are the western nations, primarily NATO nations that they paranoidly consider threats.
At one point I would have thought a book like this would help any country become stronger against the threat. You know, the informed citizenry argument. Unfortunately, the Republicans are also in a constant state of war with their own country, so the whole informed citizenry thing only applies to part of the country. If the GOP ever decide governing is more important than simply having power and (mis)ruling, this book will help us protect ourselves. Until then, The GOP and Russia are working together, explicitly and implicitly, so the enemy is both within and without.
The first part of the book might seem the driest but is important to establish what is and is not being assessed, in addition to how. Once you get past that, which frankly isn't too bad, the book is actually quite engaging as well as informative.
Highly recommended for anyone wanting to understand how wars will be, at least partially, fought in the future (and present). The Russians are seeking to defeat their enemies from within, they are targeting the weakest links (GOP here in the US) and leading them to asinine conclusions.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
September 17, 2022
This book is more academic than many you'll find on modern Russia (naturally, as it is based on the author's PhD dissertation), but it's an important glimpse into how exactly things have gone so wrong in the past decade or so. The author has done massive amounts of research and been granted access to some important resources, and she manages to tell you about it in a lively manner. All my Russia-watching friends and colleagues will enjoy this one, I think, and so will anyone interested in the media or IT security.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 9, 2024
Very well researched and qualified cases, put into the book.
Also great explanation of the qualification process for a suspected Russian information/disinformation case, for it to be included in the book.
Amazing how effective the Russians have been at manipulating millions of people, all around the world, and continue to be effective.
Also great explanation of the qualification process for a suspected Russian information/disinformation case, for it to be included in the book.
Amazing how effective the Russians have been at manipulating millions of people, all around the world, and continue to be effective.
September 8, 2022
Not an easy read but full of information. Main premise is that Russia uses cyber attacks in conjunction with other information operations. Book is really only 165 pages, the rest is references. Very analytical.
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March 6, 2022ARC provided by NetGalley—
1. Major reservation with this being from the RAND corporation and the US Naval Institute.
However I am curious about Russias cyber warfare and will continue reading it.
1. Major reservation with this being from the RAND corporation and the US Naval Institute.
However I am curious about Russias cyber warfare and will continue reading it.
June 19, 2022
It’s an exhaustively researched book that throws back the veil on Russia’s playbook and its attempts to influence, destabilise and violate territorial integrity. Given the current confrontation, this book’s insights could not be more acute or relevant - not only for those interested in foreign policy but the wider public. In this sense, a solid argument exists to bring forward its publication date.
My thanks to NetGalley and Naval Institute Press for granting this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks to NetGalley and Naval Institute Press for granting this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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