Browsing by Author "Sliwa, Robin"

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    Critical infrastructure security in the age of cyberwarfare
    (2023) Sliwa, Robin
    Our modern critical infrastructure of the 21st century is not only digited; it is also more interconnected than ever before. While this progress has provided many improvements in efficiency, functionality and maintainability, it also introduced new attack vectors. It subsequently has become a target for coordinated attacks by cybercriminal and government-affiliated hacking groups. Especially current circumstances such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine have made the protection of critical infrastructure a central topic of (inter-)national security. This thesis provides an overview over critical infrastructure security in the context of cybersecurity. To that end, modern critical infrastructure is introduced and put in the context of legislative frameworks through the lens of European Union regulations. The central part of this thesis explores landmark attacks and incidents in form of Stuxnet and NotPetya. Followed by this, the adversaries behind such attacks and the resources available by them are analyzed; correspondingly, potential countermeasures and paths to enhanced cybersecurity are introduced. Overall, this thesis finds that critical infrastructure cybersecurity requires a much higher priority by public and private organizations. More than that, it suggests the pursuit of more holistic approaches over isolated measures - and a consideration of cybersecurity implications during all stages of business design and operation.
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    Disinformation campaigns in social media
    (2020) Sliwa, Robin
    In an increasingly digitally connected world, social networks have become a large factor in news consumption, discussion and staying connected to friends. This thesis aims to give an overview over how this new platform has been a vector for the conduction of disinformation campaigns. Beyond the prime example - possible Russian disinformation in the U.S. from 2015 to 2017 - and its efficacy, further candidates as well as the historical context, technical aspects and the public response are touched upon. The U.S. election of 2016 is evidently a well-documented example of an election targeted by a large-scale disinformation campaign conducted through social media. Indications exist that campaigns are also being conducted in other political contexts (France, 2017) and with contexts extending into economics. This thesis also finds that more research is needed to systematically detect and investigate disinformation campaigns, especially in order to measure and contain their real-world impact.