DIGITAL INFORMATION LEAKS AS A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY

Abstract

The article is devoted to defining the features of the category of digital information leaks as a threat to the national security system. It is emphasized that hacking and leaking operations can be divided into two clear stages: obtaining data and content through cyberattacks (“hacking”) and their distribution using various strategies (“leaking”). Information leaks became especially popular during the decade of 2010–2020, when a series of significant cases occurred in the public environment. The article considers examples from the experience of other states. Particular attention in the study is paid to hacker interference in the electoral processes in the USA in 2016 and in France in 2017. In the first case, a similar hack of the Democratic National Committee’s mail led to the discrediting of the political force and defeat in the elections. In the second case, the political party En Marche was able to prove the falsification of the leaked information and win the elections. In addition to the specific cases, leaks such as The Drone Papers, Panama Papers and Panama Papers are also analyzed. The article focuses on identifying various motives associated with information leakage, specific practices or technologies of leaks. Thus, it is possible to identify the main ways to potentially combat information leaks, which may pose a potential threat to national security. First of all, public sector employees, representatives of different political forces should distinguish between personal and public mail, not using the same passwords, because, in the event of hacking an employee’s mail, criminals gain access to the conference facility of the workplace. In addition, trust plays an important role in the exchange of information via electronic means of communication – employees should know that access to their account should not be provided to technical support without proof of their participation in the organization. No less important is the fact that it is better not to send important information by mail at all.