Social media has become a tool of terror and fear, says CIA chief

US computer system under constant cyber attacks from all over the world

GN Bureau | March 14, 2015


#the us   #cia   #Pakistan   #india   #social media   #isis   #terror   #terrorist  

Nobody knows better about terror than this organization and one should take note when it talks. CIA Director John Brennan has said that changing technology and social media websites have “greatly amplified” the security threats facing the free world.

To illustrate his point he said that the Islamic State group, for example, uses new technologies to “coordinate operations, attract new recruits, disseminate propaganda, and inspire sympathizers across the globe to act in their name.”  Brennan was speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

“The overall threat of terrorism is greatly amplified by today’s interconnected world, where an incident in one corner of the globe can instantly spark a reaction thousands of miles away; and where a lone extremist can go online and learn how to carry out an attack without ever leaving home,” he said.

The CIA director said that the Sunni radical terror group has grown to roughly 20,000 fighters from more than 90 countries.

Brennan revealed that the US government computer networks are under assault every day from foreign governments, terrorists and hackers of all stripes. He said America's adversaries are "skilled, agile and determined" and matching them will require focus and imagination — from government and private industry. Last week, Brennan created a new cyber unit at the CIA. Intelligence community considers cyber threats a greater risk to national security than terrorism.

Meanwhile, the State Department said on Friday it was temporarily shutting down Internet service on its unclassified computer network to clean up malware and boost defenses against cyberattacks. The network was breached in November and malware was said to have been inserted by hackers. The department refused to confirm published reports that Russia's government is behind the hackers.

The CIA chief also classified Pakistan along with Iraq, Syria and North Korea as global hotspots and these countries pose strategic and tactical challenges to policy makers.

"Developments in a host of countries across the globe are raising strategic and tactical challenges for policymakers and our Agency,"Brennan said, referring to countries like Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Afghanistan, North Korea and Pakistan.

Comments

 

Other News

India-Russia ties: Anchored in trust, deep mutual understanding

Unlike the US and the West, Russia does not have a relationship with India merely based on transactional exchange of goods or commodities. Instead, it is based on deep mutual understanding and trust, which have helped the two countries in navigating ups and downs of international geopolitics for decades.

Centre accelerates railway upgrades across Maharashtra

The union government has reiterated its commitment to the development and expansion of the railway network in Maharashtra. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the significant progress achieved in recent years through enhanced budgetary suppo

On Ukraine, Modi tells Putin India stands for peace

India stands for peace from the beginning when it comes to Ukraine, prime minister Narendra Modi said here Friday, as he welcomed Russian president Vladimir Putin. "We welcome all efforts being made for a peaceful and sustainable resolution of this subject. India has always been ready to contribute

Passport Verification Record now available on DigiLocker

The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has announced a major enhancement to citizen services through the enablement of the Passport Verification Record (PVR) on the DigiLoc

Strengthening telecom sector for significant growth in its digital infra

The government has undertaken several measures to strengthen the telecom sector in the country which has led to the growth of telecom sector. These measures include Rationalization of Adjusted Gross Revenue; Rationalization of Bank Guarantees (BGs); Rationalization of interest rates and remo

Praja Foundation launches Citizens’ Manifesto for Maharashtra civic polls

Praja Foundation has unveiled the Citizens’ Manifesto for Maharashtra’s Municipal Elections 2025, presenting a comprehensive reform roadmap aimed at strengthening municipal governance, enhancing service delivery, and advancing transparency and citizen participation across urban local bodies.

Visionary Talk: Amitabh Gupta, Pune Police Commissioner with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now





Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter