Bridging the Narrative Attack Gap in Cybersecurity

The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) role has never been more demanding. Executives must focus on a broad spectrum of core projects such as endpoint security, phishing attacks, ransomware, and safeguarding a company’s “crown jewels.” 

However, a new attack vector creates a critical gap in understanding and mitigating narrative risks outside the company’s internal landscape. Traditional cybersecurity measures have narrative intelligence gaps related to external threats in the dark web, social media, and news platforms. However, bad actors can create narratives designed to manipulate public perception, create discontent, impact stock prices, and even motivate direct cyberattacks.

LEARN MORE: What Is A Narrative Attack?

In addition, recent changes in the SEC’s reporting requirements, including mandatory cyber incident reporting within four days and annual reporting on cybersecurity risk management, have intensified the pressure on CISOs and boards. Understanding and acting upon these risks are no longer optional; they are fiduciary responsibilities.

Blackbird.AI’s Constellation Dashboard offers a strategic solution for CISOs and Threat Intelligence Teams to bridge this intelligence gap with a nuanced understanding of narrative warfare, bot activity, and coordinated inauthentic behavior. Our platform was initially developed for critical intelligence for the U.S. Department of Defense, strategic communicators, and reputation protection in the Fortune 2000. It can also provide immense value to cybersecurity and threat intelligence professionals, articulating clear value propositions that align with their core functions and the evolving landscape of cyber regulations.

‍Key Use Cases Include:

Insider Threat Analysis – Beyond Conventional Attack Surfaces:
Our platform extends beyond the conventional attack surface by diving into the human element of potential risk through misinformation, disinformation, and other harmful conversations. We uncover hidden narratives and external influencers by gaining visibility of data sources outside the company’s security parameters, like dark web forums, social media channels, and news outlets. These insights offer a more comprehensive picture of potential insider threats, filling a significant intelligence gap and equipping security teams to tackle multi-dimensional risks.

Public Perception Monitoring – Understanding Resilience Through Discourse:
The handling of a cyber breach extends far beyond technical recovery. Our platform provides a detailed understanding of how media, the public, and various discourse channels respond before, during, and after an organization handles an attack. It enables the cyber team to track the narrative, discern its impact, and strategically brief the board and stakeholders with a true picture of resilience when needed. By doing so, they can adapt their strategies to influence public perception, making their approach more robust and responsive.

‍Mechanized Disinformation 

Russia pioneered advanced software systems for automating social media disinformation, including creating fake accounts and content at a large scale. Their systems were adopted by a wide range of bad actors, resulting in a proliferation of social media disinformation. Our platform operates at the same large scale, enabling cyber and brand teams to anticipate and counter-narrative threats targeting brands, government organizations, and others. 

‍Deepfakes / Synthetic Media

A decade ago, deepfakes, hyper-realistic videos created using AI, were novel and rare. Today, thanks to the advent of generative AI technologies, synthetic media is inexpensive and easy to build. Deepfakes have enormous potential for abuse, as they can make anyone appear to say or do anything. The government is concerned about their use by adversaries to spread propaganda, and brands are worried about reputational attacks. The Blackbird platform can help your team identify synthetic media before it goes viral.

In an era where the rigor of public scrutiny around cyber risk response is skyrocketing, Blackbird.AI’s offering has become a valuable asset and a necessity. We understand the multifaceted challenges CISOs face, and our platform is tailored to equip them with the insights they need to protect and propel their organizations forward. Cybersecurity isn’t just about fighting direct threats; it’s about understanding narrative attacks that create misinformation and disinformation that can affect an entire organization and impact its stock price, brand equity, and perceived resiliency. The only way to be better prepared for these attacks is to bridge cybersecurity’s narrative threat intelligence gap.

Blackbird’s Narrative & Risk Intelligence platform is a game-changer in cybersecurity, addressing two key use cases that traditional methods can’t touch: In an era of heightened scrutiny and changing regulations, Blackbird’s offering is more than an asset; it’s a necessity. We don’t just tackle cybersecurity; we enhance understanding, resilience, and protection by addressing these critical narrative intelligence gaps.

‍To learn more about how Blackbird.AI can help you with election integrity, book a demo.