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Terrorism

"Going Dark": ISIS Exploits Encryption Technology to Communicate Securely

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The recent terror attacks in Paris, which claimed 130 lives, have highlighted the growing concern of law enforcement and counter-terrorism officials worldwide that extremist groups like ISIS are increasingly using encryption technology to evade detection. ISIS utilizes various apps, including Telegram, which boasts two layers of encryption and claims to be faster and more secure than its competitor WhatsApp. The terror group has a technology resource for jihadists, offering 24-hour support on how to encrypt communications and hide personal details, making it challenging for authorities to prevent the next terrorist attack.

Key Takeaways:

  • ISIS uses technology, including encryption, to evade detection and communicate securely, making it challenging for law enforcement to prevent terrorist attacks.
  • The terror group has a technology resource with 5-6 members offering 24-hour support on how to encrypt communications, hide personal details, and use apps like Twitter while avoiding surveillance.
  • Telegram, a messaging app with two layers of encryption, is used by ISIS to communicate securely, despite the company's claims to have blocked 164 ISIS-related channels across 12 languages.
  • FBI Director James Comey has stated that the use of social media by ISIS is unprecedented and that "court orders" to prevent crimes are ineffective due to encryption protection.
  • At least 52 Americans have been charged with terror-related crimes for allegedly supporting ISIS, highlighting the need for effective counter-terrorism efforts.
  • Government efforts to undermine encryption raise broader concerns about privacy and would lower the defenses used to keep confidential email, business plans, and banking information secure.
  • Non-government groups like Ghost Security, a hacktivist collective, are involved in the fight against ISIS, taking down propaganda sites, social media accounts, and videos, and infiltrating private ISIS communications.

Statistics:

  • 130 lives lost in the recent terror attacks in Paris.
  • 5-6 members of the ISIS technology resource providing 24-hour support on how to encrypt communications.
  • 164 ISIS-related channels blocked by Telegram across 12 languages.
  • 52 Americans charged with terror-related crimes for allegedly supporting ISIS.
  • 110,000 social media accounts taken down by Ghost Security.
  • 6,000 propaganda videos taken down by Ghost Security.
  • 149 Islamic State propaganda sites taken down by Ghost Security.

Sources:

  • National Counterterrorism Center Director Nicholas Rasmussen in the CNN Special Report, "Targeting Terror: Inside the Intelligence War."
  • FBI Director James Comey last week.
  • Terror analyst Michael S. Smith II.
  • Matthew Green, who teaches cryptography and computer security at Johns Hopkins University.
  • Ghost Security's DigitaShadow in an interview with CNN.

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