In 2020 HBO released the documentary The Perfect Weapon based upon the best-selling book by David Sanger a New York Times national security correspondent. The book was a fantastic review of cyber attacks conducted by Russia, China and other countries deemed hostile to the US and the West. Accordingly, this documentary reveals how cyber war began. This is certainly the primary strategy today for nation state attacks. This documentary is also available on Amazon Prime.
Stuxnet, known as the cyber attack “Olympic Games” was an original US/Israel joint cyber attack. The concern was understanding the risk to a nuclear war in the Middle East in supporting Israel’s defense. The Bush Administration chose to invoke a new type of warfare.
Stuxnet introduced a new type of digital warfare. However, the success is proving that Stuxnet attacks can shutdown airports, waterways, hospitals, or gas pipelines.
Stuxnet fallout
Stuxnet was certainly a magic digital genie. However, with the genie out of the bottle, the world changed.
Both North Korea and Iran launched new cyber attacks. In 2013 Sheldon Adelson publicly threatened Iran by stating he could have the US drop a nuclear bomb on Tehran. His Las Vegas casinos were hacked shortly thereafter.
In 2014 Hollywood opened a new attack threat by releasing the movie The Interview, which tells a story of Americans assassinating Kim Jong-Un. A strong cyber attack upon Sony Pictures also shortly followed.
Cyber was then, and now remains the preferred battlefield. Besides, the bullets are also digital. The victims are organizations, not soldiers.
2016 US Presidential Election
The second half of this documentary is addressing the 2016 US Presidential election. The role of Russia’s military intelligence unit (GRU) attacking Hillary Clinton’s campaign electronically was also new to America. The GRU successfully phished Clinton’s campaign manager:
Then shortly afterwards wikileaks began publication of stolen documents during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. This provides an accurate backdrop to numerous fake Facebook accounts created by Russian trolls to influence US public opinion.
Cybersecurity executives are interviewed to share background.
Eric Rosenbach is a former instructor. He unquestionably communicates across this documentary challenges in protecting America’s assets from cyber war. He provides insights to key issues:
Russia’s cyber war is ongoing
Facebook acknowledges GRC activity within Facebook’s advertising network. There are new types of conflicts that the American old guard could not understand.
China’s cyber war is evolving
China picked up the cyber attack plan from Russia and ran with it.
COVID-based cyber attacks are growing
China and Russia are pursuing cyber attacks against Western medical research facilities to steal vaccine research data. At the time of broadcast a vaccine was not yet globally available. This easily mimics how China steals US technology to prop up their economy and national defenses.
Cyber war will not stop
Certainly 2024 will certainly find American society again at war with itself on social media. North Korea and Iran along with our long-standing foes will be leading new misinformation campaigns.
David released The Perfect Weapon (my review) in mid 2018. The book is always better than the movie. This HBO documentary is a good update to the book.
In conclusion, if you find this documentary unnerving, David’s book will keep you up at night.