I think it could very well have been either a web portal or even a worldwide network just using HF. Maybe they thought it was “under the radar” so to speak, and military actually picked up on it. Read another post that some within military have been monitoring Deep State since beginning of Obama administration. All just speculation on my part.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_frequency
When all factors are at their optimum, worldwide communication is possible on HF. At many other times it is possible to make contact across and between continents or oceans. At worst, when a band is “dead”, no communication beyond the limited groundwave paths is possible no matter what powers, antennas or other technologies are brought to bear. When a transcontinental or worldwide path is open on a particular frequency, digital, SSB and Morse code communication is possible using surprisingly low transmission powers, often of the order of milliwatts, provided suitable antennas are in use at both ends and that there is little or no man-made or natural interference.[3] On such an open band, interference originating over a wide area affects many potential users. These issues are significant to military, safety[4] and amateur radio users of the HF bands.
Tech licenses do not have HF privileges (except CW on 10 meters), so she would have to use a web link. They are pretty common and functional.
I’ve been a Ham op 42 years. I know about HF. (and VHF/UHF) Had friend who was into Moonbounce. I did his tower work, his EME station used a 28 ft. dish. He was a great machinist and craftsman. Was a retired businessman and retired military officer. He was a very good tech. He had a couple of very powerful home brew UHF amplifiers. (he had a chit of paper allowing past normal wattage output for experimental testing)
It’s still a very good hobby, but dated for espionage use.