Why in the world can't they track down terrorists on the web? Some loser downloads kiddy pr0n or releases a virus on the web and they'll track that person 1/2 way around the world and pin it down to one computer at some apartment building. But if someone posts on the web claiming responsibility for blowing up buses or posts a video of themselves cutting off someone's head we can't seem to track that down...

If the authorities can't get past the safeguards the terrorists are using, I assume your local haxor could. Is there just some simple explaination that I'm missing? Are the terrorists really that much more tech savvy than the average guy busted for online stuff?

Do you have an access point? Is it secured? What about your neighbor? Odds are, within half a mile of your house, someone has an open access point. All it takes is someone parked nearby a few minutes to connect, upload something, then drive off. Unless you have video footage of your street 24/7, there isn't much in the way of being able ot track them down.

Most virus writers get caught not because their point of origin is tracked down, but usually because of a tip from a friend, or in some cases, because the creator can't keep their mouth shut. I think it was the sasser creator (but possibly someone else) that was caught because of their conversations on IRC and someone sending in a tip.

To be fair, a number of terrorists were caught as a result of using cel phone SMS messaging as their primary means of communication. They didn't realize how well they could be tracked. As such, it's entirely likely that terrorists who use the web to post their braggadocio leave a trail of evidence in the web logs that a determined detective could use in an investigation. IP addresses could lead to cyber cafes. That could lead to security camera videos. Or not. We know that bin Laden is paranoid about this sort of thing, and thus only communicates through couriered video or audiotape. Lesser operatives don't have the luxury of personal courier services. By cutting corners, they're leaving traces, and those traces can (hopefully) be followed.

Apparently Bin Laden used to use an Iridium phone for his communication needs. And then a British army guy (I forget who) blabbed to the press that he had one and "we know where he is" and he didn't any more....

Interestingly, the old Iridium company was part owned by Saudi Binladen group and one of Osama's brothers was a director!

Although the US gov't had 20,000 Iridium phones in use, it was also probably one of the reasons why they wanted the network still active.

Gareth

Well sure, of course it can happen, and is surely happening, but guys like us don't get invited to those meetings. And I did mention we have had success catching some of them. Thing is, unlike organized crime in America, it's harder to get them to "flip" on their superiors, so following the chain to the top is very difficult, as evidenced by the fact that we haven't gotten there yet.

About dang time in my opinion:

link

Edit (tonyc): Fixed broken link (BBS no likey the commas).

Interesting. I wonder what they're doing to take the sites down. I recently read somewhere that a lot of the sites are hosted here in the U.S. That struck me as very odd considering all the effort that's being put into anti-terror efforts.

Yeah, but our CIA (and, I assume, your MI5) don't necessarily have to answer to the laws on the same level as the general populace. It's always nice if what they do can be classified as lawful when the stories come out, but it's not strictly necessary. Which is my reason for wondering aloud whether the sites were infiltrated (hacked) or brought down with legal maneuvers.

The CIA have no jurisdiction within the United States.

And what about my post leads you to believe I'm talking about the CIA doing anything inside the US?

Because there was previous talk of the web sites being hosted in the US.

I thought the same thing and was about to post a similar reply.