Difference between revisions of "MonsterMind"

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'''MonsterMind''' is an alleged program of the U.S. [[National Security Agency]] (NSA) that, according to [[Edward Snowden]], can autonomously recognize and respond to a foreign [[cyberattack]]. The existence of this system has not been proven, but it has been actively discussed in society.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2014/08/13/the-nsa-has-a-secret-program-that-automatically-hacks-back-against-enemy-targets-says-snowden/|title=The NSA has a secret program that automatically hacks back against enemy targets|first=Brian|last=Fung|date=August 13, 2014|newspaper=Washington Post|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
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{{concept
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|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MonsterMind
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|constitutes=Artificial intelligence, Cyberwarfare
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|description=AI set up for Cyberwarfare
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'''MonsterMind''' is an autonomous [[cyberwarfare]] program of the [[National Security Agency]] that, according to [[Edward Snowden]], is capable of responding to [[cyberattack]]s from other countries without human intervention. The program is said to use [[anomaly detection]] software to identify potential foreign cyberattacks. After identifying such patterns, MonsterMind can automatically block and respond to these attacks.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2014/08/13/the-nsa-has-a-secret-program-that-automatically-hacks-back-against-enemy-targets-says-snowden/</ref><ref>https://www.pcmag.com/news/snowden-details-nsas-monstermind-cyberwarfare-program</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20240616060932/https://www.yahoo.com/news/snowden--nsa-has-secret--monstermind--program-that-operates-without-human-intervention-022706070.html</ref><ref>Kim Zetter. [https://www.wired.com/2014/08/nsa-monstermind-cyberwarfare/ Meet MonsterMind, the NSA Bot That Could Wage Cyberwar Autonomously] // Wired : magazine. — 2014-08-13. — ISSN 1059-1028</ref>
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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On August 13, 2014, the American magazine ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' alleged the existence of the MonsterMind program after journalist [[James Bamford]] conducted an extensive interview with [[Edward Snowden]].<ref>James Bamford. Edward Snowden: [https://www.wired.com/2014/08/edward-snowden/ The Untold Story // Wired : magazine]. — 2014-08-13. — ISSN 1059-1028.</ref>
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On August 13, [[2014]], the American magazine ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' alleged the existence of the MonsterMind program after journalist [[James Bamford]] conducted an extensive interview with [[Edward Snowden]].<ref>James Bamford. Edward Snowden: [https://www.wired.com/2014/08/edward-snowden/ The Untold Story // Wired : magazine]. — 2014-08-13. — ISSN 1059-1028.</ref>
  
 
Snowden claimed that the program tracks unusual patterns in Internet traffic that indicate an attack, using algorithms to analyze metadata. Once identified, MonsterMind automatically blocked the traffic from entering the United States.
 
Snowden claimed that the program tracks unusual patterns in Internet traffic that indicate an attack, using algorithms to analyze metadata. Once identified, MonsterMind automatically blocked the traffic from entering the United States.
  
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On September 17, 2019, Snowden released his autobiographical book, ''[[Permanent Record (autobiography)|Permanent Record]]'', detailing his childhood, his work at the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and the NSA, and the motivations behind his [[2010s global surveillance disclosures|2013 leak of classified information]] exposing global surveillance programs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/aug/01/edward-snowden-memoir-to-reveal-whistleblowers-secrets-permanent-record|title=Edward Snowden memoir to reveal whistleblower's secrets|first=Alison|last=Flood|date=August 1, 2019|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>Edward Snowden (September 17, 2019). Permanent Record. Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 978-1-250-23724-8</ref>
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One of the main issues raised by Snowden is the potential for misdirected counterattacks due to the autonomous nature. For example, an attacker could misrepresent the source of an attack, causing MonsterMind to inadvertently attack an innocent third party, such as a hospital in another country.<ref>https://www.vanityfair.com/news/politics/2014/05/edward-snowden-politics-interview</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20130613004622/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/10/18882615-what-we-know-about-nsa-leaker-edward-snowden?lite</ref>
  
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==Purpose==
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Apart from domestic privacy issues, Snowden warns that the program could create problems in international relations. Since cyberattacks launched by MonsterMind could be routed through computers in third countries, there is a risk of escalating conflicts or misunderstandings with those nations.<ref>Chernenko, E., Demidov, O., & Lukyanov, F. (2018). [https://www.cfr.org/report/increasing-international-cooperation-cybersecurity-and-adapting-cyber-norms Increasing International Cooperation in Cybersecurity and Adapting Cyber Norms.] Council on Foreign Relations. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep29959</ref>
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MonsterMind is described as an autonomous [[cyberwarfare]] program capable of responding to [[cyberattack]]s from other countries without human intervention. The program is said to use [[anomaly detection]] software to identify potential foreign cyberattacks. After identifying such patterns, MonsterMind can automatically block and respond to these attacks.<ref>Kim Zetter. [https://www.wired.com/2014/08/nsa-monstermind-cyberwarfare/ Meet MonsterMind, the NSA Bot That Could Wage Cyberwar Autonomously] // Wired : magazine. — 2014-08-13. — ISSN 1059-1028</ref>
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The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] (ACLU) has expressed concern about the lack of transparency and debate about the legality and appropriateness of such surveillance programs and has been actively monitoring developments.<ref>https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-comment-edward-snowden-lawsuit</ref> If the U.S. government is indeed scanning all Internet traffic entering the country, it raises serious questions about civil liberties.
  
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==Debate==
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==AI?==
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The MonsterMind program, as described by Snowden,<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/politics/2014/05/edward-snowden-politics-interview|title=Snowden Speaks: A Vanity Fair Special Report|date=April 23, 2014|magazine=Vanity Fair}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-06-13 |title=What we know about NSA leaker Edward Snowden - U.S. News |url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/10/18882615-what-we-know-about-nsa-leaker-edward-snowden?lite |access-date=2023-12-06 |archive-date=2013-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613004622/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/10/18882615-what-we-know-about-nsa-leaker-edward-snowden?lite |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> has generated considerable interest and concern. One of the main issues raised by Snowden is the potential for misdirected counterattacks due to the autonomous nature of MonsterMind. For example, an attacker could misrepresent the source of an attack, causing MonsterMind to inadvertently attack an innocent third party, such as a hospital in another country.
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This cyberwarfare program has not been described as being [[artificial intelligence]]. But since AI has entered military doctrine <ref>https://csiac.dtic.mil/articles/artificial-intelligence-as-a-force-multiplier-in-u-s-military-information-campaigns/</ref> in other fields, it stands to reason that the underlying technology of the program, or it's continuation is based on AI.
  
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Apart from domestic privacy issues, Snowden warns that the program could create problems in international relations. Since cyberattacks launched by MonsterMind could be routed through computers in third countries, there is a risk of escalating conflicts or misunderstandings with those nations.<ref>Chernenko, E., Demidov, O., & Lukyanov, F. (2018). [https://www.cfr.org/report/increasing-international-cooperation-cybersecurity-and-adapting-cyber-norms Increasing International Cooperation in Cybersecurity and Adapting Cyber Norms.] Council on Foreign Relations. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep29959</ref>
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{{PageCredit
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The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] (ACLU) has expressed concern about the lack of transparency and debate about the legality and appropriateness of such surveillance programs and has been actively monitoring developments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-comment-edward-snowden-lawsuit|title=ACLU Comment on Edward Snowden Lawsuit}}</ref> If the U.S. government is indeed scanning all Internet traffic entering the country, it raises serious questions about civil liberties.
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|site=Wikipedia
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|date=26 December 2024
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|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MonsterMind
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}}
  
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==See also==
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{{SMWDocs}}
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*[[Edward Snowden]]
 
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*[[Snowden effect]]
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
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[[Category:National Security Agency]]
 
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[[Category:Edward Snowden]]
 
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[[Category:Whistleblowing in the United States]]
 
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[[Category:Internet-related controversies]]
 
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[[Category:Political controversies in the United States]]
 

Latest revision as of 00:16, 26 December 2024

Concept.png MonsterMind 
(Artificial intelligence,  “Cyberwarfare”)Rdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
AI set up for Cyberwarfare

MonsterMind is an autonomous cyberwarfare program of the National Security Agency that, according to Edward Snowden, is capable of responding to cyberattacks from other countries without human intervention. The program is said to use anomaly detection software to identify potential foreign cyberattacks. After identifying such patterns, MonsterMind can automatically block and respond to these attacks.[1][2][3][4]

History

On August 13, 2014, the American magazine Wired alleged the existence of the MonsterMind program after journalist James Bamford conducted an extensive interview with Edward Snowden.[5]

Snowden claimed that the program tracks unusual patterns in Internet traffic that indicate an attack, using algorithms to analyze metadata. Once identified, MonsterMind automatically blocked the traffic from entering the United States.

One of the main issues raised by Snowden is the potential for misdirected counterattacks due to the autonomous nature. For example, an attacker could misrepresent the source of an attack, causing MonsterMind to inadvertently attack an innocent third party, such as a hospital in another country.[6][7]

Apart from domestic privacy issues, Snowden warns that the program could create problems in international relations. Since cyberattacks launched by MonsterMind could be routed through computers in third countries, there is a risk of escalating conflicts or misunderstandings with those nations.[8] The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has expressed concern about the lack of transparency and debate about the legality and appropriateness of such surveillance programs and has been actively monitoring developments.[9] If the U.S. government is indeed scanning all Internet traffic entering the country, it raises serious questions about civil liberties.

AI?

This cyberwarfare program has not been described as being artificial intelligence. But since AI has entered military doctrine [10] in other fields, it stands to reason that the underlying technology of the program, or it's continuation is based on AI.

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2014/08/13/the-nsa-has-a-secret-program-that-automatically-hacks-back-against-enemy-targets-says-snowden/
  2. ↑ https://www.pcmag.com/news/snowden-details-nsas-monstermind-cyberwarfare-program
  3. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240616060932/https://www.yahoo.com/news/snowden--nsa-has-secret--monstermind--program-that-operates-without-human-intervention-022706070.html
  4. ↑ Kim Zetter. Meet MonsterMind, the NSA Bot That Could Wage Cyberwar Autonomously // Wired : magazine. — 2014-08-13. — ISSN 1059-1028
  5. ↑ James Bamford. Edward Snowden: The Untold Story // Wired : magazine. — 2014-08-13. — ISSN 1059-1028.
  6. ↑ https://www.vanityfair.com/news/politics/2014/05/edward-snowden-politics-interview
  7. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20130613004622/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/10/18882615-what-we-know-about-nsa-leaker-edward-snowden?lite
  8. ↑ Chernenko, E., Demidov, O., & Lukyanov, F. (2018). Increasing International Cooperation in Cybersecurity and Adapting Cyber Norms. Council on Foreign Relations. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep29959
  9. ↑ https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-comment-edward-snowden-lawsuit
  10. ↑ https://csiac.dtic.mil/articles/artificial-intelligence-as-a-force-multiplier-in-u-s-military-information-campaigns/
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