Commissioned by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation For Freedom Malaysia in late 2025, as part of a Study on Perceptions of Geopolitics and Regional Issues, this dedicated CRC report examines how Chinese and Russian influence affects Malaysia’s digital information environment and public opinion. The report integrates the results of two recent national surveys, narrative intelligence findings, and a media environment analysis.

During the last week we observed, collected and analyzed endpoints of information related to cyber-based hostile influence campaigns (including Cyfluence attacks). This weeks report is a summary of what we regard as the main events.

The Iran War (Operation Epic Fury) has redefined modern conflict, revealing how cyber operations and influence campaigns, collectively termed "cyfluence", now function as primary offensive tools alongside military force. From the hijacking of a prayer app to broadcast takeovers and AI-generated deepfakes, the war demonstrates that shaping perception has become as strategically vital as controlling territory.

During the last week we observed, collected and analyzed endpoints of information related to cyber-based hostile influence campaigns (including Cyfluence attacks). This weeks report is a summary of what we regard as the main events.

This blog analyzes a recent cyfluence operation that briefly hijacked Iranian state TV amid a nationwide internet blackout. It focuses onRecently, activists briefly hijacked Iranian state television. This blog analyzes the events surrounding what may be a recent cyfluence operation.

China is increasingly using “counter-operator” measures: instead of only targeting content, it pressures the people behind influence and cyber operations through bounties, doxxing, sanctions, and “naming and shaming” (e.g., Taiwan, Canada). The aims are deterrence, degrading adversary capabilities, and narrative control.

Anthropic claims that Claude Code ran most parts of a cyber-espionage intrusion on its own. Experts doubt this because clear technical proof is missing. The text applies this disputed case to HIC and Cyfluence. It asks how agentic AI could speed up influence workflows, automate key tasks, and scale operations. If such autonomy becomes reliable, the technical phases of influence campaigns could expand in speed and impact.

The prelude and opening stages of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine were one of history's most intense periods of hostile cyber and influence activity. This study examines the conflict's information dimension from late 2021 to April 2022 via a novel analytical paradigm adapted from strategic marketing and audience segmentation.

Cyfluence represents the convergence of technical infiltration, sabotage, data exfiltration, information manipulation, and narrative campaigns - all embedded within mutually reinforcing, influence-centered kill chains. It is the comprehensive expression of how power is applied and projected across today’s interconnected information environments.

Viral images featuring the ‘One Piece’ pirate flag, adopted as a symbol by protestors, made front page news and social media was soon flooded with cross-country messages of support and solidarity. In this CRC Spotlight article, we examine the potential operational implications of this development: how commercial ride hailing apps can serve as channels for on-the-ground support and how they might represent a new vector for Influence Operations.