US Government drafts plans to confuse cyber-criminals
Hackers, even AI ones, can't break into your systems if they're confused... or so goes the theory.
Key takeaways
- Intelligence work is often as much about gathering information as it is about disseminating misinformation.
- Specifically, IARPA is looking for feedback on existing deception methods, test and evaluation methods, emerging techniques and information on the respondent company’s organizational structure and service offerings.
- Depending on the information received, IARPA plans to hold a one-day workshop on deception tactics, which could lead to research investments in the future.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2016) 'US Government drafts plans to confuse cyber-criminals', 311 Institute, 28 August. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/us-government-drafts-plans-to-confuse-cyber-criminals/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Intelligence work is often as much about gathering information as it is about disseminating misinformation. To that end, the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), the branch of the US Government whose objective it is to solve some of the US's most critical Intelligence Community challenges, is looking for innovative solutions around deceptive cyber defenses.
In a recent request for information, IARPA contracting officers put out the call to “identify existing capabilities and emerging methods” for protecting data and systems by confusing and otherwise deceiving the adversary prior to and during a cyberattack.
“Historically, denial and deception (D&D) has been used by militaries for defense, whether it be to instill uncertainty or to provide misinformation,” contracting officials explain in the RFI, and, “D&D can also be looked at similarly for increasing cyber defense posture and resiliency.”
In the RFI, IARPA notes this concept is gaining traction in the private sector but has yet to really mature.
“Many techniques lack rigorous experimental measures of effectiveness, information is insufficient to determine how defensive deception changes attacker behavior or how deception increases the likeliness of early detection of a cyberattack,” according to the notice.
Specifically, IARPA is looking for feedback on existing deception methods, test and evaluation methods, emerging techniques and information on the respondent company’s organizational structure and service offerings. The RFI includes a detailed set of questions for each of the four areas.
Depending on the information received, IARPA plans to hold a one-day workshop on deception tactics, which could lead to research investments in the future.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Hackers, even AI ones, can't break into your systems if they're confused... or so goes the theory.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
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Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 28 August 2016. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2016). US Government drafts plans to confuse cyber-criminals. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/us-government-drafts-plans-to-confuse-cyber-criminals/
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