17 March 2005

Al Qaeda buys cyber criminal expertise

John Charlton

Al Qaeda will likely be more active in cybercrime.

That’s the warning from Peter Warren, co-author of a recently-published book, Cyber Alert which charts and explains the rise and rise of cybercrime.

"They’re trying to recruit experts in [the appropriate] technology to help overcome their money supply issues”. Action taken by the authorities since the 9/11 terrorist attacks has stemmed much of the organization’s flow of money.

The book says Al Qaeda has turned to organized crime groups for their money laundering expertise. It quotes a Russian cyber crime expert, a Dr Galeotti, who says: ‘on the whole they [Al Qaeda] are looking to buy in expertise rather than depend on people they have indoctrinated because it is easier and quicker and there are less links.

'Al Qaeda is paying three times what Russian organized crime is charging the Cosa Nostra, which means paying interest at about 75%.’

The book also claims – quoting a ‘senior former intelligence source’ – that Al Qaeda recruited ‘top-grade’ computer experts to hack on its behalf against Western targets.

According to the source, Al Qaeda tried to recruit computer professors from Eastern Bloc countries, with the aim of taking them to African countries, from where they were supposed to hack into key Western targets. These included systems controlling airports and power and water supplies.

But cyberterrorism is just a sub theme of the book.

Warren also predicts that cyber criminals will increase their attacks on mobile device systems.

" Mobile phones and PDAs will prove very attractive to cyber criminals who will want details of those who use these platforms to conduct online banking transactions.”

The book’s major narratives are the rise of the cyber criminal, cybercops and the fight against cyber crime, identity theft, computer porn and future developments.
Warren and his co-author Michael Streeter, make much of their contacts in the police and intelligence services. These include chief superintendent Len Hynds of the UK’s National Hi-Tech crime Squad and FIB officers Dave Thomas and John Gillies.

With such sources it’s hardly suprising that the book contains details of some major cyber crimes.

For example the ‘Moonlight Maze’ attack on the US Department of Defense by Russian hackers in 1999, and the theft of an ordinary US teacher’s identity. The teacher, referred to here as Nancy1, had her ID stolen electronically by a hacker who operated as Nancy2.

Nancy2 laid waste to Nancy1’s financial affairs to such an extent she turned to the US Identity Theft Resource Center for help and gradually restored her electronic standing.

"I realise that I am only as good and only as safe as the digital record that society keeps on me,” said Nancy1.

Like almost everyone she was unaware of the damage cybercrimes can wreak.
This has prompted Warren and Streeter to propose, in the book, a ‘Cyber Manifesto’.

This calls on governments and industry to adopt 10 proposals. These include a call to better educate the public about the dangers of cybercrime and to set a minimum safety standard for computers and software, with a view to making life as difficult as possible for cyber criminals.

Cyber Alert (ISBN 1-904 132-62-6) is published by Vision (www.visionpaperbacks.co.uk) and costs £10.99/$17.95.

* Peter Warren has tracked and researched computer and related crimes since beginning to work as an IT journalist in 1987. Michael Streeter is a former Fleet Street journalist.

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