It refers to hostile or competitive actions that fall between peace and open warfare. It operates deliberately in the “grey area” below the threshold of declared armed conflict, where adversaries use a blend of conventional and unconventional tools to achieve strategic objectives while avoiding direct attribution or escalation into open war.

Information Operations are coordinated actions taken to influence, disrupt, corrupt, or usurp the decision-making processes of adversaries while protecting one’s own. They are a critical component of modern and grey zone warfare, where the battle for perception is as important as physical combat.

Hybrid Warfare blends conventional military power with non-military means to achieve strategic aims while staying below the threshold of open war. The “tools” are the different levers of power used in combination.

Technical Intelligence (TechInt) is the collection, analysis, and interpretation of scientific and technical information about foreign capabilities, equipment, and technologies. It helps decision-makers and defense forces understand how adversary systems function, anticipate emerging threats, and develop effective countermeasures.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are transformative technologies that have significantly reshaped the landscape of cyber warfare.In the realm of cyber warfare, AI and ML serve both offensive and defensive roles. On the defensive side, these technologies empower cybersecurity systems to detect anomalies, predict threats, and respond to attacks in real-timeConversely, on the offensive side, malicious actors—including state-sponsored groups—leverage AI to enhance cyber attacks. Automated tools can craft sophisticated phishing emails, bypass traditional security mechanisms, or rapidly exploit system vulnerabilities with minimal human input..

Basics of hacking and the tenets of hacker warfare is a technical as well as psychological game. The game of asymmetry is best founght by being ahead of the learning curve rather than following it. We therefore re-define the contours and paradigms of hacking in the new age of technology