Cyber Counterintelligence

Abstract

This article advances a conceptual framework for cyber counterintelligence (FCCI) as a theoretical construct, hopefully useful not only to this field's academic development, but also to sound practice. It is submitted within the context of the sharp increasing targeting of state and non-state actors by adversarial intelligence actors (such other nation states, crime syndicates and competitors). The signature role of cyber counterintelligence (CCI) is precisely the engagement, exploitation and neutralisation of such adversarial actors. CCI has been practised by nation states for well over a decade and has recently also been gaining traction in corporate board rooms and as an academic field. Sound theory is critical to not only CCI's academic evolvement but also to sound practice. The proposed FCCI comprises of eight notional building blocks essential to explaining what CCI is and how it works.