FireEye: Hacktivists helping Islamic State are on the rise – The number of “hacktivists” helping Islamic State propagate its message through attacks on media outlets and websites is increasing significantly, according to a report by cybersecurity company FireEye.
The security company points out that attacks are becoming increasingly complex in nature. A characteristic example of the targets hit by hacktivists in cyberspace is the French television station TV5 Monde, however other media outlets have also been found on the list, to the point that it is difficult to identify who is at risk and who is not.
«In April, the “Cyber Caliphate”, a group that claims to be linked to ISIS, took responsibility for the disruption of the online presence and broadcast capabilities of TV5Monde…»
The group published propaganda and the identities of French soldiers supposedly conducting military operations against ISIS on websites and social media accounts.
The cyber operation is reported to have knocked out TV5Monde's production and transmission system for hours. This incident may have been the first time a television station is off the air as a result of a cyberattack» it is noted in the analysis.
As FireEye emphasizes, similar groups conduct such activities – which are believed to have been carried out by Russia and China or were linked to the Syrian government, have been targeting media for a long time, to promote political and economic objectives. What makes the groups that affiliate with ΙSIS different is that they target news organizations of all sizes, from stations like TV5Monde to social media accounts and the websites of small newspapers and television stations.
«There are many who go to Syria to fight for the Islamic State, but another way to fight is to stay at home and do it from there» said to the BBC David Merkel, chief technology officer of FireEye.
"If you have an Internet and some skills, you can definitely do it."
It is noted that, so far, the Islamic State has been known for using cyberwarfare tools in combat zones, aiming to collect information on enemy forces, and it emphasized that, even if it is difficult to directly link these attacks to the organization, for propaganda purposes, there is no doubt that they are carried out in its name.
Source: naftemporiki.gr
