Documents Reveal Al Qaeda Cyberattacks

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Johann Wolfgang Vo Goethe stated, "We don’t know what we see; we see what we know." One should never underestimate an enemies capabilities. A well thought out cyber attack blended with a low level physical attack could very well create a high level of angsty within a population. Just because we have not seen a demonstrtion of, or know, doesn't mean that a capability to execute doesn't exist. Its not a matter of if, its when.

S. Michael of MD 10:12AM April 17, 2010

until we have something pretty big happen in the USA as a result of computers fouled by enemies. I imagine Al Qaeda would like nothing better than to smash up some western capitalism. Sure, they like literal bombs better. But cyber bombs? Tempting to them, too, of course.

Muser of NM 10:58PM April 16, 2010

Maybe you don't know how the Internet works. When you access the Internet, your physical location can be determined. The US controls all the servers that act as "traffic cops" on the Internet.
If we know where they are, we can send troops to kill them, launch a Predator missile in their window, or observe their movements from a satellite to see where they go and what they do - and who they talk to.
Terrorists are not the technologically ignorant goat herders so many here would like to believe. You may be confusing al Qaeda with the Taliban footsoldiers.
Many terrorists are highly educated and technologically savvy. They know how to "spoof" their IP addresses and mask their locations. They send vacation photos that contain encoded, hidden attack plans. They're not stupid, and it's foolish to assume otherwise.
That said, it's generally not something terrorists care about. They want spectacular attacks that kill lots of people and make lots of headlines - shutting down a website doesn't do that.
They may have an interest in using cyberattacks to assist in executing other attacks, but that's about it.

Rich of CO 12:54PM April 16, 2010

"In some ways, a fight in cyberspace is one the United States welcomes. "When someone from al Qaeda jumps online, then we can jump on them," says another counterterrorism official.
Who says that i mean seriously grow up? That is so inappropriate. They should have interviewed the straight counterterrorist official.

Joseph Blue of AK 1:24PM April 15, 2010

Joe coming from CA I figured you would'nt be so homophobic? Trying to cover somehting up?

Phil of RI 12:47PM April 15, 2010

Did anybody else find that last paragraph a little weird?
"In some ways, a fight in cyberspace is one the United States welcomes. "When someone from al Qaeda jumps online, then we can jump on them," says another counterterrorism official."
That sounds a little gay to me. I think they should have interviewed a non homosexual counterterrorism official.

Joe of CA 12:38PM April 15, 2010

First of all I didn't know they knew what computers were. Or if they could even afford one at the most. But i really underestimated those terrorists. Know that we have identified a problem lets send a suicide virus to destroy their systems. But unfortunately they will probably be familiar with the suicide bombing part and could stop it easily.

Steve of AL 12:34PM April 15, 2010

Ok, so now we are trying to frame an arguement to begin an aggressive counter- cyber war program. This is a good thing except we are looking to the wrong enemy. This article is citing an event that occured about 10 years ago and was unsuccessful and now we are going to make this group the focos of our effort? The biggest cyber warriors attacking our vitual infrastructure is China and Russia (or their surrogates around the world). Why not target them?

John of MO 12:34PM April 15, 2010

I have known many of these guys and saw one once actually play what you americans would call "Le Nintendo" though I must admit, he wasn't very proficient.

Francois DuGlute 6:40PM April 14, 2010

Oh yes, these al kwaida guys are for sure a bunch of super genius computer gurus. Ummmm, last time I checked their leaders were holed up with their "comfort goats" in a bunch of nasty old caves somewhere in lower Crackistan. I know for a definite fact that almost all of them are too stupid or lazy or smashed out of their minds on hashish to operate a so much as a two-dollar calculator, let alone a computer.

Steve Jobs of CA 6:34PM April 14, 2010