Cyber security, al-Qaida style

G. Finch, Minneapolis, MN — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:34:54 GMT

The 'secrets 2' appears to be a pun reference to the Microsoft XP SP 2 security update for their operating system. Also, I have been forced to use similar tools just to keep my operating system running. What's to keep 'terrorists' from running zombie computers? It's been a re-accuring thought, as I've had so much trouble with mine (operating system), I don't see why they wouldn't. I just wanted to play a few video games, put together a family album, get to know how the e mail works, put personal records in order, and it became an epic struggle for survival; I've had to rip printer programming out with a 'level 3 uninstall' using a command prompt, because hacker spyware wouldn't/couldn't be removed. And that was after about 2 hours with a company representative who tried her hardest to get the thing to work. I wound up purchasing a new printer. They told me I had to. I've been awakened at night because my storage harddrive was running so fast and hard it sounded like it was going to take off like an airplane. That's just for starters.

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Loren — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:12:40 GMT

Government agencies should post their own software that looks to the bad guys like something that would help them cover their tracks but actually it allows the agencies to see what they want to see.

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Rick, Newcaste Wash — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 06:25:20 GMT

It would seem that the Microsoft/Apple Guru's would create sophiscated counter to the S 2 Programs.

As far as Zombe Computers are concerned, there should be a way in which one could defend against those. A simple Software Block or Diverter would enable itself and defend against it.

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Jeff Bardin — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:00:34 GMT

Actually, secrets 2 has nothing to do with MS XP SP 2. It is truly version 2 of the program with significant enhancements. It is not a service pack but a full version upgrade. There is absolutely not relation or correlation to Microsoft.

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Peter Frampton, Syracuse, NY — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:42:55 GMT

How about shutting down the internet feed to the country that houses Al-Jazeera and other media outlets like it....pretty simple when you shut down the metro area exchange that controls that region of the world until the politicians overseas do more.....they'll be complaining that they can't get their porn and remember the internet belongs to teh USA we started it and expanded it.....

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Krista R-C — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:14:36 GMT

Try turning on your computor first thing in the morning, and having the time on your lap top 3 hours behind and your msn messenger/hotmail totally changed. I have battery back-up in case of power loss, but we lost no power that early morning. I was not amused. I change my passwrod regularly, I have no personal data or account numbers stored on computor. but what I found ironic, is that I had previously had the hotmail plus, billed regularly to my bank accountby msn. I cancelled that out when I moved in 2005. I was sent an email from them saying my credit card payment was denied in 2006. I pulled up the msn account information in the email with my previous account number (B of A), and the bloody page was in Dutch langauage. I could not even read this. No email response has been received by msn hotmail representatives since I reported it and sent forwarded page in Dutch. I printed out the page in Dutch, and the email. So, if anyone has hotmail plus, paying the extra fee---beware. The really good hackers, are in Morocco and Algiers.
From what I have heard, Al-Q bought and uses satelite systems, splicing into internet cables in one area, relaying to another. I would not under-estimate this group at all.

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Jesse Clarke, Gaithersburg, MD. — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:32:54 GMT

I don't have any sophisticated software/hardware. Just XP Pro, Live OneCare and a router. I turn off my computer at night, and at times the modem. I stay out of sites that will have a virus/worm etc. Mainly do email, WoW, and read the news.

I'm sure Al-Q uses sattelite internet access, after all they've been using SATCOM for years.

When I saw "secrets 2" I thought of the flick Sneakers, and the phrase "too many secrets". Don't know if Al-Q has seen it, but, one never knows.

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Tabris Macbeth, Centralia, Pen. — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:03:23 GMT

Two things I have to question: One, what do Jihadists have to talk about online? How best to blow yourself up? For the life of me, I can't think of how one would go about making Jihadist recruitment video. Everyone knows there's a war going on, so...there you go. Either that knowledge alone recruits you or it doesn't. Videos like the one released by al Zawahiri are really nothing more than little men who want to hear themselves talk.
And two, did that article mention "Second Life"?! Who uses Second Life?! Furthermore, how can you do anything in Second Life other than very poorly live out your most depraved sexual fantasies via lousy 3D models?! Halo 3 would make a better training simulator than Second Life! On the other hand, so few people are using Second Life that there will be no witnesses, and hey, it's not like terrorism simulation is the worst thing I've ever seen on Second Life.

-Tabris

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Maynard Shea, Eleele, HI — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:18:06 GMT

We know they are coming to kill us. As long as they know we are coming to kill them too. We will never stop hunting them down. That is all the message we need to send to them.

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Amulet, UK — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:44:51 GMT

Mr. Frampton-
The Internet does not belong to the US. It was not started solely by the US, and has not been expanded soley by the US. It is truly a global entity.

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Barry, Bronx, NY — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:58:35 GMT

Wanna know why Al-Qaeda always will be a step ahead of us? They like to think outside the box. While in the US, if any new idea isn't like "that the way we always do things around here", then it's tossed. Govt workers have all and any free thinking ability sucked out of them, and because of this, we can only rely on luck to keep another 9-11 from happening.
Not a very happy thought...

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Peter C, CO — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:40:11 GMT

Peter Frampton:
I hope very much that you were kidding. The internet may have begun in the US, but at this point, nobody "owns" it. Its grown far beyond any national borders, and even if it were possible to cut off internet to entire regions of the world (i'm not sure its possible without dismantling large portions of the internet at this point), it would be like taking a sledgehammer to a fly. The collateral damage would be totally unacceptable. That kind of arrogance is a large part of why much of the world hates the US.

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Austin Bob — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:32:54 GMT

All it takes is for a US to confiscate or gain access to one of their laptops, and their entire security protocol is compromised. For example, laptop may have private keys. And they won't necessarily know if/when we have confiscated/accessed one. I'm not worried - they are operating under a false sense of security.

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Jim Grey — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:19:20 GMT

Austin Bob, they operate in cells, so even if a laptop has one set of keys, so what? That doesn't undo file shredders that hide forensics or messages encrpytoed with other methods.

There is a lot if infosec misunderstanding being displayed in many of the responses to this article.

Tabris, the videos are used for brainwashing. Not everyone sympathetic to Al Qaida is ready to blow themselves up or drop their lifestyle to take up arms. However, after some convincing about the true words of Allah or the depth of evil of the infidels, Al Qaida can turn a sympathizer into a militant. Just because you can't understand it does not make it impossible.

Barry, the average government worker is indeed encouraged to be a drone, but this does not apply to top security analysts. We still have more smarts than Al Qaida, because we have more resources.

Finally, G. Finch, much of what you say makes no sense, but please buy an antivirus/antispyware program and keep it up to date.

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Grant, Ar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:06:29 GMT

In response to Mr. Frampton and Amulet,

The "Internet" was first thought of and contstructed in the US when a computer at UCLA linked up with another computer at SRI International in Menlo Park, which was originally called ARPANET. However, the "World Wide Web" was created outside the US, by English Scientist Tim Berners-Lee.

While many people think of the internet and the world wide web (WWW) as the same, they are not. it is just the common usage to refer to the WWW as the internet.

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

l. jenkins, red oak, Ia — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:43:03 GMT

Stick to bow hunting, Mr. Frampton, you are good at that and playing guitar too. I hope you all encourage your children to mess about on their computers; they will be the ones who save our rears in the future. Set about hackers to infiltrate these programs; they would enjoy the ego boost. I challenge all of you fair hackers to have at it.

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Kenneth — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:06:10 GMT

Cyber security, al-Qaida style

Jason — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:06:17 GMT