By SUZAN DELIBASIC,
technology editor
Cyber security experts say online extremists are using hard-to-detect platforms to communicate, making it harder for law enforcement agencies to track them down.
Macquarie University Cyber Security lecturer Dr Mamoun Alazab said radicalised groups were using internet platforms to promote violent extremism online.
“Extremist websites are being accessed through search engines such as Azzam.com ... and Justpaste.it. They are also participating in forums and websites in the Deep Web that can only accessed by encrypted tools,” Dr Alazab said.
He said terrorist recruiters often used these platforms to befriend or encourage potential recruits to follow them. In doing this, recruiters were able to engage members with issues that support their particular cause.
Using these types of communication methods made it harder for law enforcement agencies, Dr Alazab said.
“The difficulties law enforcement agencies face are that terrorists can operate virtually from abroad and remain anonymous online by avoiding network surveillance and traffic analysis by regulators.
“Even if law enforcement agencies are able to trace the origins of an attack, there can be significant challenges in securing and analysing evidence, especially in countries where there may be an insufficient capacity or ineffective legal tools in place,” he said.
Dr Alazab said law enforcement agencies should have access to cutting-edge technology and proper training for tracking origins effectively and accurately.
“It is important that there is an effective partnership between law enforcement agencies and stakeholders such as ISPs,” Dr Alazab said.
“Support from the private sector is vital. Engagement with international and regional efforts, combined with the active involvement of industry and civil society, will continue to offer the best means for effective suppression of online terrorist activity,” he said.
Dr Alazab said the government should encourage social workers, religious leaders, youth leaders and academics to address how terrorists engage with social media and online gaming.
“It is important that these groups of people working with vulnerable communities understand the latest trends and messages so that they can counter it in a way that is relevant for their profession and for the groups that they work with," he said.
“Providing education and training is a great tool to increase the digital awareness and understanding among front line workers.”
He said sites such as Facebook and Twitter should be used as an online resource space where community members could communicate concerns.
“Prevention is better than a cure, indeed public awareness of these issues are important especially around how new technology can be a tool for terrorists,” Dr Alazab said.
Monash University director of Social & Political Sciences Associate Professor Peter Lentini said there were risks involved when radicalised groups communicated offline.
“Recent events such as the Boston Marathon attacks tend to suggest that when people are working offline it makes them even harder to catch because they don't leave any – or that many – digital footprints,” he said.
A/Prof Lentini said the Tsarnaev Brothers, who were responsible for the Boston attack, were always in each other's company and did not need to reach out to others and communicate about attacks.
“They were able to consume various forms of propaganda and utilise online instructions for bomb making or at least these materials were found among their possessions,” he said.
However, A/Prof Lentini said there have been countless attacks that were linked to various forms of internet communications.
“Al-Qaeda has utilised various forms of encryption software to pass on messages and instructions. In addition, they have communicated in various chat rooms to pass on advice to prospective terrorists," he said.
“Recent research indicates that planned attacks in Toronto during the previous decade were discussed in this way.”
A/Prof Lentini said Anders Behring Breivik, who was responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks that killed 77 people, built his explosive devices based on instructions he downloaded.
“He trained himself to maintain discipline while shooting based on his use of and participation in online gaming platforms and he was constantly in communication with a broader 'radical nationalist' milieu," he said.
“Indeed most experts agree that Breivik is a rare self-starter terrorist as it is very difficult to build devices from internet instructions. However, he had the time, resources and a secluded property where he could build and test explosives.”
He said various forms of information technologies were more potent vehicles for extremists to communicate with each other, build and reinforce the narratives of their struggles, and disseminate propaganda.
“The Breivik example demonstrates the lethal potential of those who have the capability, motivation and opportunity to conduct terrorist attacks,” he said.
Deakin University deputy director of the Centre for Cyber Security Research Professor Matthew Warren said the UK government had been looking at the possibility of banning messaging services such as WhatsApp and Skype.
“The issue is that these apps are now using sophisticated encryption systems which governance agencies cannot easily break into,” Prof Warren said.
He said the community was in danger because intelligence and police agencies did not have the capabilities to stop every terrorist activity from occurring.
“Any organisation who uses the technology available to them (mobile or web) plan their activities in secret. Governments cannot easily monitor in real time all online communications,” he said.
Prof Warren said government statistics showed that in 2014-15, The National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT Australia), responded to 11,733 cyber incidents affecting businesses, 218 of which involved systems of national interest and critical infrastructure.
“The statistics show that Australia does face a cyber threat including the risk of cyber terrorist activities,” he said.
Victoria University post-doctoral research fellow for The Centre of Cultural Diversity and Wellbeing Dr Debra Smith said research into social media used by violent extremists that wass specific to the Australian context was relatively underdeveloped and still emerging.
“Where there is primary research it tends to focus on publicly available information such as Facebook and Twitter as there are significant problems in accessing data from private messaging,” Dr Smith said.
She said the research problems encountered include ethical research guidelines, a lack of intelligence sharing with academics for the purpose of research, and legal implications.
Dr Smith said technology might contribute to facilitating the distribution of violent extremist propaganda or connecting with other like-minded individuals, however, the main influencing factor remained face-to-face social groups.
“ISIS's use of social media is both highly professional and profuse in a way that we have not seen before and they are very good at promoting a narrative of redemption and purpose which can be very appealing to some people,” she said.
A spokesperson for the Attorney-General’s Department said the government was more committed than ever to addressing violent extremism in our communities.
“The downward trend in the ages of those becoming involved in violent extremism is particularly concerning,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said in December 2015, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), agreed to take forward a range of initiatives to support families, schools, youth and communities impacted by violent extremism and help young people avoid the risk of online engagement with violent extremists.
“The Australian Government has partnered with social media companies and operational agencies, such as the Australian Communications Media Authority (ACMA), to take down violent extremist material and increase public reporting through the Report Online Extremism Tool.
“In schools, we are taking steps to develop core critical thinking skills in kids to equip them to better challenge and critique online information, rather than taking it on face value,” the spokesperson said.
The Children’s eSafety Commissioner is scoping programs that build digital resilience and equip young people, their families and communities to recognise and remove themselves from potential online harm.
“Our focus is on safeguarding vulnerable Australians from terrorist groups and helping to prevent situations where they are putting themselves or others at risk of harm.”