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DIGITAL FORCE PROTECTION

Protecting the Force in a Surveillance Economy

Research, analysis, and policy development supporting force protection and privacy.

DFP addresses force protection and operational security concerns for both units and individuals, with a particular focus on commercial surveillance and the digital economy. We partner with military and civilian researchers, lawmakers, and practitioners to break down silos and bring together interdisciplinary research.

The widespread collection of commercial data poses significant national security risks. Ubiquitous Technical Surveillance (UTS) refers to the continuous collection of data from smartphones, applications, vehicles, home appliances, wearable devices, and online platforms.

Our team conducts interdisciplinary research and provides advisement to the Army on matters of online force protection, privacy, commercial surveillance, and the Army's emerging Information Advantage doctrine.

Research Areas

Commercial Surveillance & Privacy

Assess risks associated with data brokers, privacy concerns across connected devices, and vulnerabilities in commercial data collection practices.

Information Advantage

Support the Cyber Center of Excellence's Information Advantage Campaign of Learning and provide warfighter assessments.

Data Privacy & National Security

Examine how commercial surveillance and data collection create risks for individuals, organizations, and military forces.

Narrative Warfare

Study how adversaries leverage narratives, culture, and information environments to influence behavior and decision-making.

Historic & Legal Information Warfare

Examine cyber espionage, information manipulation, and international legal frameworks governing information operations.

Current Projects

Commercial Data Report
Vehicle Privacy Project
Social Media & Influence
Smartphone App Research
Biometrics
AdTech, Microtargeting & Commercial Surveillance
Researchers
LTC Bruce Chojnacki
LTC Bruce Chojnacki
Research Scientist
MAJ Alex Master
MAJ Alex Master, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
MAJ Nicholas Harrell
MAJ Nicholas Harrell, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
PUBLICATIONS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATIONS

2026

JOURNAL ARTICLE
David's Sling, Goliath's Bill: The Economics of Drone Defense – A Layered Defense Framework
Harrell, N., Chojnacki, B.
The Cyber Defense Review (2026)
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CONFERENCE PAPER
Privacy Under Pressure: Assessing Online Commercial Surveillance Countermeasures and Gaps
Preti, C., Harrell, N., Master, A.
European Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security (ECCWS), 2026
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CONFERENCE PAPER
Assessing Non-Kinetic Effects in Support of Military Operations: An Inference-Driven Framework
Chojnacki, B., Harrell, N.
European Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security (ECCWS), 2026
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CONFERENCE PAPER
No Privacy for Privates: How Military Communities Experience and Perceive the Privacy Risks of Military-Marketed Apps
Shinkle, J., Mukherjee, C., Imran, A., Bianchi, A., Celik, B., Master, A.
Privacy Enhancing Technologies Symposium (PETS), 2026
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2025

CONFERENCE PAPER
Unseen Threats: The Privacy Risks of Data Collection in Government Fleet Vehicles
Chojnacki, B., Daher, Z., Master, A.
3rd USENIX Symposium on Vehicle Security and Privacy (2025)
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CONFERENCE PAPER
Using Multisensory Interactive Storytelling to Broaden Recruitment Efforts
Chojnacki, B., Sadagic, A.
Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), 2025
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CONFERENCE PAPER
Tactics and Techniques of Information Operations: Gaps in U.S. Response to Counter Malign Influence
Harrell, N., Master, A., Starck, N., Eerhart, D.
International Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security (ICCWS), 2025
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TECHNICAL REPORT
Tracking the Trackers: Commercial Surveillance Occurring on U.S. Army Networks
Master, A., Fox, J., Starck, N., Love, M., Allison, B.
Army Cyber Institute Technical Report (2025)
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TECHNICAL REPORT
Cyber Exploitation Risks to U.S. Servicemembers
Moonshot
Technical Report (2025)
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2024

THESIS
Enhancing Recruiting Efforts for the U.S. Army: A Study of Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences
Chojnacki, B.
Naval Postgraduate School (2024)
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JOURNAL ARTICLE
Data as Ammunition: A New Framework for Information Warfare
Dawson, J., Matthew, K.
The Cyber Defense Review, Vol. 9, No. 2 (2024)
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JOURNAL ARTICLE
The New Insider Threat: How Commercially Available Data Can Be Used to Target and Persuade
Fox, J.
Managing Insider Risk & Organizational Resilience (MIROR) Journal (2024)
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CONFERENCE PAPER
Overcoming Social Media API Restrictions: Building an Effective Web Scraper
Harrell, N., Cruickshank, I., Master, A.
International Conference on Web and Social Media (ICWSM) Workshop Proceedings (2024)
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PRESENTATION
AdTech and Military-Friendly Banks: Data Vulnerabilities for Servicemembers, Families, and Veterans
Master, A.
AvengerCon VIII Conference Presentation (2024)
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2023

JOURNAL ARTICLE
Who Controls the Code, Controls the System: Algorithmically Amplified Bullshit, Social Inequality, and the Ubiquitous Surveillance of Everyday Life
Dawson, Jessica
Sociological Forum (2023)
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TECHNICAL REPORT
Death by a Thousand Cuts: Commercial Data Risks to the Army
Fox, J., Master, A., Starck, N., Dawson, J.
Army Cyber Institute Technical Report (2023)
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CONFERENCE PAPER
Adaptive Detection and Policy Transformation for Insider Threats
Harrell, N., Master, A., Dietz, J.
Purdue Military Research Institute Defense & Security Research Symposium (2023)
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CONFERENCE PAPER
A Worldwide View of Nation-State Internet Censorship
Master, A., Garman, C.
Free and Open Communications on the Internet (FOCI), 2023
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2022

CONFERENCE PAPER
Optimizing Cybersecurity Budgets with Attack Simulation
Master, A., Hamilton, G., Dietz, J.
IEEE Homeland Security Technology Symposium (2022)
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CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
Threat Modeling Internet Censorship: Towards Evaluation of Managed Attribution Software
Master, A.
AvengerCon VII Conference Presentation (2022)
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EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATION
Password Managers: Secure Passwords the Easy Way
Master, A.
Purdue Extension Education Store (2022)
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2021

CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
Practical Online Privacy
Master, A.
AvengerCon VI Conference Presentation (2021)
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JOURNAL ARTICLE
Microtargeting as Information Warfare
Dawson, J.
The Cyber Defense Review, Vol. 6, No. 1 (2021)
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PROJECT SPONSORS