What is Managed Attribution?

In our recent 4 part series, I discussed the ins and outs of misattribution. However, at Ntrepid we prefer to use the expression managed attribution. In this episode of The Ntrepid Cast, I answer the question: “What is managed attribution?” and explain why it a more useful term for the process. 

Listen to the Ntrepid Cast podcast on this topic.

Attribution is the assigning of an identity to some visible entity or activity. Managed attribution is the active process for shaping online identifiers. It is the way you can control what conclusions others draw about the identity of an online entity.  

Managed attribution is related to misattribution, but they are not quite the same thing. Misattribution speaks to the state of mind of a viewer. If they believe the story being told, then they will misattribute the true identity of an entity. Managing attribution is how you tell that story. It is the active process of creating the visible information that will lead the viewer to the desired conclusions. 

When operating online, I find it most useful to focus on managed attribution, keeping the active process at the center of attention. This helps to keep operators focused on what steps they need to take in order to be successful, rather than focus on the desired outcome. 

Managing your online attribution has become part of everyday life. We all think about how we want to be portrayed online, whether you are only posting particular types of photos, or engaging with certain content. Managed attribution takes this to the next level and assumes aggressive opponents.  

As I covered in the misattribution videos, the many different dimensions of visible identity include everything from computer identifiers and trackers, to linguistics, social connections, and history. An operator must maintain every visible aspect of their identity. Every detail needs to be consistent with the story of the identity, or it will be discovered as a fake.  

Ntrepid specializes in creating solutions for managing attribution. We provide both the tools and the training to be effective in online investigations and operations of all kinds against even the most sophisticated opponents.