Terrorists using online games a major threat -Governance Now

Terrorists using online games a major threat

PTI | April 15, 2011

Terrorists worldwide might be actively using online computer games to communicate to each other, easily escaping the security eye, despite billions being spent on technologies to intercept and monitor electronic messages and communications.

This threat was highlighted recently with the release of technothriller 'MMORPG: How a computer game becomes deadly serious' by Dutch author Emile van Veen, who spent two years researching on how terrorists could utilise so called Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games.

The CIA tentatively acknowledged this threat in its 2008 Data Mining Report and started the Reynard Project as a "seedling effort" to detect suspicious behaviour and actions in the virtual world.

Although online gaming has exploded and hundreds of millions of people participate in these games, not much has been heard about the Reynard Project since.

Recently the danger of terrorists using computer games as a secure communication channel led to alarming news articles by major newspapers in Europe, following the release of van Veen's work.

These online games appear to be an unbreakable code for intelligence agencies and offer communication channels like email, chat and voice chat.

They are violent by nature, making it virtually impossible to detect dangerous conversations.

They can be accessed from any computer, anywhere, by using anonymous accounts.

Van Veen's story is set in both the real and the virtual world, a novel concept in itself.

Emile van Veen says: "Especially reproductions of our real world are dangerous. Someone who wants to blow up the Brooklyn Bridge could examine the target in detail and scout his way in and out as well".

He thinks the danger is imminent.

After the release of his thriller in Europe, Van Veen received a lot of worried press attention.

"Many people accused me of bringing this to the attention of terrorists and criminals. That's unfair, it's already there.

"The Intelligence Community must act and they must act fast. I hope my novel helps in bringing about a sense of urgency," he says.

Comments

Other News

How the mind can help the body heal itself

Why do some people recover from illness against all odds? Can our beliefs, emotions and consciousness influence the body’s ability to heal? Drawing on over three decades of experience in medicine, research and medical innovation, internationally trained ophthalmologist and author Dr Dinesh Verma ex

1,364 anti-cancer formulations to cost less from today

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has capped trade margins on the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of 137 anti-cancer drugs. This was based on the recommendations of an Expert Committee constitute

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.