Posted on 01/14/2008 10:41:28 AM PST by Sammy67
Al-Qaida eyes troops’ MySpace pagesPosted in January 7th, 2008 by Terresa Monroe-Hamilton in Middle East/Terrorism, PoliticsFrom the G2 Bulletin:
British intelligence monitors operatives gathering details from websites
By Gordon Thomas
LONDON - In an unprecedented New Year “high priority” warning, MI5, Britain’s Security Service, has asked British troops to remove all personal details they posted over the Christmas period on the social networking websites Facebook, MySpace and Friends Reunited.
MI5 Internet analysts discovered al-Qaida operatives had been monitoring the sites to gather details that could be used to launch terror attacks.
Under the heading “Personal Security,” the two-page document, signed by MI5 chief Jonathan Evans, was circulated on New Year’s Day to all British commanders in Britain, Afghanistan and Iraq.
“You are requested to ensure that service connections on chatroom and dating sites do not appear. Be especially careful if you use Facebook, MySpace or Friends Reunited.”
The MI5 analysts have seen that many thousands of servicemen and women had posted personal details on those websites and had included news of their careers, pictures of themselves in uniforms and details of past postings.
“Those details in the hands of al-Qaida operatives offer invaluable information,” Evans warns.
Access to Facebook is restricted to members. But all that is required to register is an e-mail address.
“We now know al-Qaida is using hundreds of false accounts to access the personal pages of many service personnel listed on regimental forums on the site,” states the MI5 document.
As an indication of the danger on New Year’s Eve, one MI5 analyst uncovered the names of 954 servicemen on the Royal Marines network on Facebook and another analyst found on MySpace no fewer than 127 names of Royal Anglican Regiment soldiers.
“Many of the soldiers gave their full names, dates of birth, home towns, names of family members, girlfriends or wives, the locations of where they had served and photos posing with colleagues and weapons.”
“That kind of detail,” warns the MI5 document, “is pure gold to terrorists. It can enable them to plot an attack as never before. And not only on targets in the field, but against the families of those soldiers.”
Last year, MI5 uncovered a plot to kidnap a British Muslim soldier who had recently returned from service abroad and to behead him on the Internet.
“The United Kingdom remains a target for al-Qaida’s home-grown Islamist activity. Attacking soft targets causes maximum casualties and fear,” reveals the report.
Citing the attack on Glasgow Airport last summer, the document adds: “Most recent incidents of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices were the work of educated men who knew how to use information intelligently.
“The truth is that in 2008 al-Qaida will continue to recruit extremists to conduct suicide attacks both in Britain and abroad, as well as recruiting sympathizers prepared to assist by providing accommodation, transportation and funding,” concluded the warning from Jonathan Evans.
But even as he had penned it, there came the huge embarrassment of learning that the new head of the Joint Intelligence Committee – the supremo of all British intelligence who acts as the link between MI5, MI6, GCHQ and the government – had posted his intimate details on Facebook.
Far from hiding himself from the scrutiny of terrorists, Alex Allen, 56, had used the website to list his home phone number, address and names of family friends, and his hobbies: cycling, card games and sailing. On his Facebook entry, Allen, who took over Jan. 1 as head of JIC, revealed he is a fan of the 1970s American band the Grateful Dead and likes to windsurf on the Thames.
Hours after a call from Evans, the red-faced Allen had taken down his Facebook revelations. But almost certainly not before they had been noted by one of the Islamist terrorists Evans had warned about.
Here’s something really funny.
Al Qadea can get to MySpace and Facebook, and even Youtube (among other sites), but us poor DOD employees and contractors CAN’T.
How’s that for screwed up?
Can’t even look things up that are legit, like news articles.
Wow, that is screwed up! We are trying to “play fair” with those who don’t play fair, with disasterous results.
Al Quaeda member: “Abdul, I am so angry! Sgt. First Class Bowman will not add me as a myspace friend! INfidel dog!! I will set my account to private, and then when he makes a friend request, I will deny him!! ALLAH AHKBAR!!”
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