STATE-SPONSORED CYBER ATTACKS

At CSINT, we are committed to exploring the dynamics of state behavior in cyberspace, with a particular focus on how and why nation-states employ cyber instruments. We investigate the deployment of hackers as proxies by states to project power and examine the complex interactions and motivations behind these actions. Our current work centers on the dynamics of interstate cyber conflict and how states leverage cyber capabilities in the pursuit of national security goals. Through this research, we aim to uncover the strategies, tactics and implications of state-sponsored cyber operations, providing critical insights into the evolving landscape of global cybersecurity and digital diplomacy. 

KEY AREAS OF FOCUS

  • STATE BEHAVIOUR IN CYBERSPACE

    We explore how and why nation-states use cyber instruments.  

  • CYBER PROXIES AND POWER PROJECTION

    We examine the use of hackers as state-sponsored proxies and how these hackers are deployed to project power and influence in the international arena. 

  • INTERSTATE CYBER CONFLICT

    We analyze the dynamics of cyber conflict between states, including the motivations, strategies and outcomes of adversarial state-sponsored cyber operations. 

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Publications
Mythical Beasts and Where to Find Them
Mythical Beasts and Where to Find Them

Despite its contribution to human rights harms and national security risks, the proliferation of spyware remains rife. A significant channel for this proliferation is sale through a global market, of which most public information is known about only a handful of vendors. While some of these entities have achieved infamy, like NSO Group and the Intellexa Consortium, most others have largely flown under the radar.

The Mythical Beasts project addresses this meaningful gap in contemporary public analysis on spyware proliferation, pulling back the curtain on the connections between 435 entities across forty-two countries in the global spyware market. These vendors exist in a web of relationships with investors, holding companies, partners, and individuals often domiciled in different jurisdictions.

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