HYBRID threats are deliberate campaigns aimed at weakening governments through misinformation, cyberattacks, and disruptions to critical infrastructure.
It is a standalone national security risks that use disinformation and cyberattacks to undermine government trust and operations.
“These campaigns spread false information rapidly through social media and digital platforms. Unlikne Cold War disinformation, current campaigns unfold globally within seconds,” said Professor Dr Carlo Masala, Conference Chair, Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies (CISS), Bundeswehr at the University of Munich, Federal Republic of Germany.
“Hybrid threats operate independently and are not just preludes to military actions, and Governments must treat them as seriously as traditional military threats to national security.”
He warned that misinformation was the most significant hybrid threat, with long-lasting effects, which spreads quickly and is difficult for governments to counter effectively after the fact.
“Cyberattacks during natural disasters, such as jamming GPS or disrupting power to hospitals, pose critical risks. Such attacks can delay humanitarian aid and cause direct harm to civilians.”
Common government mistakes include a lack of preparedness, slow responses, and underestimating impacts.
Masala said governments often do not include hybrid threat scenarios in planning.
“Response times of 48 to 72 hours are too slow to counter misinformation effectively. This delay allows false information to persist and influence public opinion.”
National Security Integration
Speaking to Islands Business, he emphasised that hybrid threats require integrated national security responses equal to military threats.
He also said hybrid threats must be fully integrated into national security planning and emergency response frameworks.
“These threats are independent forms of operations that require dedicated resources and attention,’’ Masala said.
“Governments need to abandon any notion that hybrid campaigns are secondary to physical military conflicts.”
Masala added national security strategies should include rapid detection and countermeasures for digital misinformation and cyberattacks.
“A shift toward a ‘hybrid’ response model is necessary to match the speed of attacks.”
He noted that speed and integration were critical to effective threat response, and officials need tools and processes to respond within seconds or minutes, not days.
“Integrated planning must consider hybrid threats alongside natural disaster responses. This approach helps prevent misinformation from taking hold during crises.”
