Fighting the Online Jihad

Some very important information for a) anyone and everyone in the online counterterrorism community b) anyone and everyone else.

First, a brief explanation about a subset of the online jihad--organized hacking cells--and why it is dangerous from a MEMRI research paper re-published yesterday in the Jerusalem Post:

The evidence presented here shows that electronic jihad is a form of cyber-warfare with ideological underpinnings and defined goals, which manifests in well-coordinated cyber-attacks....

An Islamist hacker explained the method as follows: "We contact... the server [which hosts the target website] before and after the assault, and threaten [the server admin] until they shut down the target website. [In such cases], the 'host' [i.e., server] is usually forced to shut down the website. The battle continues until the enemy declares: 'I surrender.'"

The Jawa Report is a frequent target of their efforts. But, as the article goes on to say, there is "a significant gap between the mujahideen's aspirations and their actual capabilities." In other words, mostly talk and bluster. Skillz? Not so much.

Second, Aaron from Internet Haganah plays mythbuster in his post, myth, reality and jihadist use of the internet:

Myth Number 1: jihadi web sites were primitive 'back in the day' but now they are oh so sophisticated, and the jihadists who operate those sites are likewise more adept....

[Myth busted]...the tools are more sophisticated, but the jihadis are the same arrogant, hot-headed fools they ever were.

Myth Number 2: you can get sites shut down, but they will just pop back up again.

[Myth busted] Of jihadi websites in operation in 2002 and 2003] At least 80% of those sites are deceased

Myth Number 3: maybe you can get sites shut down, but many more will magically pop up to replace them.

[Myth busted] This 'myth' is perhaps more properly termed an 'excuse for inaction'.

Read the rest. Especially the "What to do?" section at the end.

For a list of important jihadi forums in operation, today, see my good friend Vlad's memo to himself here.

Posted by: Rusty at 10:31 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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