How are terrorists protected by the US National Security Service (NSA)? Privacy guides created for journalists are being used by terrorist groups, according to Trend Micro researchers.
The drivers these are designed to help avoid surveillance by nation-states and wealthy adversaries through the use of encryption, an emphasis on operational security, and the disclosure of untrusted platforms.
"Some of these guides even mention the National Security Agency (NSA) and how to avoid surveillance."
The most common tip of these guides is to avoid devices with Android and iOS as it is the NSA target.
Trend Micro did not name a terrorist organization, but the drivers are used by at least seven nations like Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, Islamic State, Al-Nusra Front, and the Kurdistan Workers' Party.
Criminals such as data thieves and credit cards use similar applications and services with terrorists.
Terrorists use regular email services, along with SIGAINT, Ruggedinbox, and Mail2Tor. They also use instant sharing apps messages like Telegram with Signal.
Favorite services bymovementof documents to avoid NSA spying include: top4top.net, Sendspace, and SecureDrop, preferably those located in the Middle East.
Jihadi supporters who want to watch more, carry the propaganda papers to SIM cards and USB sticks.
The researchers enumerated many encryption applications and plugins that serve as an alternative to the protection of terrorists:
- Mujahideen Secrets the first professional alternative to PGP.
- Tashfeer al-Jawwal is one of the first "Islamic" encryption applications released on Jihadi forums in 2013.
- Amaq is an Android app that is known to be used by terrorist organizations to disseminate information.
- Alemarah is a new app for Android that serves as a distributor news for acts related to terrorism.
- Asrar al-Dardashah 2013 was released. It is a plugin and was developed to implement Pidgin messaging.
- Amn al-Mujahed is an encryption program developed by the Al-Fajr Technical Committee.
None of the above Android apps exists on the Google Play Store.
