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jenny05
05-31-2009, 18:44
http://inhomelandsecurity.com/2008/12/al_qaeda_is_eyeing_myspace_fac.html

Al Qaeda is Eyeing MySpace, Facebook, Friends Reunited, PalTalk

By Shelley Smith
Originally published Feb. 2, 2008

Great Britain's Security Service MI5 requested its British troops to remove personal details of themselves off popular social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Friends Reunited due to discovering that they were being monitored by Al-Qaeda operatives. In the January, 2008 Free Republic article, 'Al-Qaeda eyes MySpace Pages (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1953538/posts)', Gordon Thomas writes about the concern expressed by the MI5 chief Jonathan Evans in a document titled 'Personal Security'. Evans asks for security service personnel to be aware of the monitoring and gathering of personal details that can be formed into intelligence used to launch terrorist attacks against their colleagues, or family members.

Though access to many of these social websites may be for members only, all one needs to register is an e-mail address. Al-Qaeda operatives are using hundreds of false accounts to access personal information. And what are they finding?

Thousands of military and security personnel who have posted detailed information about themselves, their careers, personal pictures and family members, date of birth, locations of where they are living, photos of colleagues and weapons.

In the United States, Islamic extremists are utilizing technology. Radical Muslims are attempting to bring Islamic religious law into the United States and had murdered a New Jersey man and his family (http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42633). Others have been victims by operatives systematically tracking individuals through PalTalk.com and other websites. An individual who lives overseas had his computer hacked to obtain his photograph, his real name and the city where he lives, while other individuals are having their personal information being exchanged through extremist websites in order to facilitate harm. With this new wave of activities it is important to maintain OPSEC (http://rf-web.tamu.edu/security/security%20guide/S2unclas/Opsec.htm).

The U.S. Department of Energy, Computer Incident Advisory Capability (CIAC), who conducts Cyber Security programs, has posted the latest Vulnerability Bulletins (http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/s-151.shtml)to share with U.S. interagency personnel.

Source:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1953538/posts
www.JihadWatch.com (http://www.JihadWatch.com)
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42633
http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/s-151.shtml
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/27493/discuss

mustangapril
05-31-2009, 18:48
THANK YOU for doing this. All along we have all warned people about this and some people continue to choose to ignore this! NOW, it's "official".

Would it be ok for me to copy this and send it in a bulletin to my friends on myspace, especially Sydney's daddy?

jenny05
05-31-2009, 18:48
Thought this was important information, especially describing what kinds of photos can be used against our troops. I see a lot of photos posted here on MIG of guys in Iraq/Afghanistan, or photos of the weapons the guys use.... Maybe that's not the best idea?

:)

Misty
05-31-2009, 18:49
:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:

jenny05
05-31-2009, 18:50
THANK YOU for doing this. All along we have all warned people about this and some people continue to choose to ignore this! NOW, it's "official".

Would it be ok for me to copy this and send it in a bulletin to my friends on myspace, especially Sydney's daddy?

I don't see why not, this is just an article I copy/pasted as well.

mustangapril
05-31-2009, 18:55
ok thanks

missing_LTRZ
05-31-2009, 19:00
thank you for sharing this!!!!
<3sasha

ILUVBRIAN
05-31-2009, 21:35
Thank you Jenny for posting this! Hopefully the threat will sink in to those that choose not to see the importance of OPSEC.

missashley214
05-31-2009, 23:30
I try to follow OPSEC pretty closely. Before posting pictures on here I make sure his name and anything else is blocked out. I never share his (well, our lol) last name either. I'm wondering though, both my Myspace and my Facebook are private, and I'm very selective of who goes on my friends list. Is it ok for me to have those pictures there?

Steph
05-31-2009, 23:38
OMG! This is sooo scary!

Thank you for the warning!

Kim
06-01-2009, 03:37
thanks for sharing this! I didn't know about the pics of their weapons thing. That's kinda interesting...and I will now be taking my sig picture down...

jenny05
06-01-2009, 09:04
I try to follow OPSEC pretty closely. Before posting pictures on here I make sure his name and anything else is blocked out. I never share his (well, our lol) last name either. I'm wondering though, both my Myspace and my Facebook are private, and I'm very selective of who goes on my friends list. Is it ok for me to have those pictures there?

Well, the thing is that it's very easy for anything on the internet to be seen by anyone. The websites aren't as secure as you'd think. Hackers can get in pretty easily. My husband is so paranoid about this issue that he will not post photos of himself on the internet at all. I think it probably depends on their job, what they do, and the risks involved as to how secure you need to be. But I don't post photos of myself really anymore for the same reason. He scared me out of it :) I've heard awful stories.

thakns for sharing this! I didn't know about the pics of their weapons thing. That's kinda interesting...and I will now be taking my sig picture down...

The weapons, yeah... I mean, it makes sense, but it's something you might not think about. Especially when it's photos of the guys in Iraq with a tank next to them or something.

BlessedinNE
06-01-2009, 09:11
I try to follow OPSEC pretty closely. Before posting pictures on here I make sure his name and anything else is blocked out. I never share his (well, our lol) last name either. I'm wondering though, both my Myspace and my Facebook are private, and I'm very selective of who goes on my friends list. Is it ok for me to have those pictures there?


I teach Internet Safety & I can't tell you how many people ( esp TEENAGERS) I've had come up to me after a presentation & say, "Wanna see how quickly I can hack a private Myspace profile??" So, if they can do it, certainly others can. I ALWAYS deliver the same message, whether it's to kids, parents, teachers, or even law enforcement: "THINK before you POST (or text) because....ONCE you POST, you CAN'T take it back".....and it's true.....you can't. Once you post, you can consider it's out there FOREVER.......

rawr x its erin
06-01-2009, 09:34
That's really scary! Thanks for posting. :)

Noelle
06-01-2009, 23:24
Thank you for posting this!

I guess I feel like facebook is more safe because you have to be my friend to see my page. But I'm going to pass this along on facebook so that my other friends in military relationships can see this too! thanks :)



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