"DOD's Digital Threats Are Increasingly Interconnecting, Watchdog Warns"

According to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) study, the digital information environment, continued spread of misinformation, and the growth of cyber threats across virtual networks are causing a new wave of significant national security challenges. GAO officials profiled six areas that could benefit from increased data oversight and protection, emphasizing that the US Department of Defense's (DOD) warfighting and intelligence operations are largely based on data collection and an interconnected information environment. GAO researchers surveyed six areas of the DOD's digital environment, which include misinformation and disinformation, the effects on DOD missions and functions, threat actors, threat actions, institutional challenges, and emerging technologies. According to Joseph Kirschbaum, GAO's director of Defense Capabilities and Management, the intersection of these six factors has been increasing over the years and threatens to worsen threat actions against the DOD. These threat areas can be used to undermine DOD missions and operations through malicious cyber activity against federal networks, illegal data harvesting, and attacks on the electromagnetic spectrum, which is used by many DOD warfighters. The consequences of adversarial actions on the DOD's information environment range from technological fallout to negative consequences for DOD personnel. One of the report's emerging topics is the targeting of individuals' cognitive foundations, including beliefs, mental health, emotions, and experiences. The report covers their critical role in the spread of harmful disinformation that can undermine national security. This article continues to discuss the six areas identified by GAO researchers that require more attention as data security becomes increasingly important in defense warfighting operations and national security.

NextGov reports "DOD's Digital Threats Are Increasingly Interconnecting, Watchdog Warns"