Pentagon Researcher Details Hypothetical WoW-hatched Terror Plot

A researcher working for the Pentagon last week presented to members of the US intelligence community a hypothetical scenario that would see foreign militants using World of Warcraft to evade spy agencies in the planning of a terrorist plot.

 

Dr. Dwight Tovas of the National Defense University presented slides featuring WoW maps and chat logs to illustrate how a group of terrorists might use the global, unmonitored MMO to communicate in secret.

Says Wired of the scenario:

In it, two World of Warcraft players discuss a raid on the "White Keep" inside the "Stonetalon Mountains." The major objective is to set off a "Dragon Fire spell" inside, and make off with "110 Gold and 234 Silver" in treasure. "No one will dance there for a hundred years after this spell is cast," one player, "war_monger," crows.

 

Except, in this case, the White Keep is at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. "Dragon Fire" is an unconventional weapon. And "110 Gold and 234 Silver" tells the plotters how to align the game's map with one of Washington, D.C.

A February report from the Director of National Intelligence notes that the US intelligence community is already looking to perfect software that would automatically detect suspicious behavior within virtual worlds such as World of Warcraft.

 

But some are skeptical of whether the policing of MMO games is a high priority for national security.

"Could terrorists use Second Life? Sure, they can use anything," said intelligence analyst Steven Aftergood. "But is it a significant augmentation? That's not obvious. It's a scenario that an intelligence officer is duty-bound to consider. That's all."

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/54752

holy shit!

im sure china is already doing stuff like that...they should just ask them for help.

This sounds ridiculous, but it doesn´t mean that they aren´t going to try it.

In other news the Pentagon has brought in Mr. Monoply for questioning. It seems that code phrases such as "I put a hotel on Park Place and 4 houses on Boardwalk" and other such phrases could be used as secret communications between terrorists. In this instance "a hotel on park place" refers to setting off an IED in Central Park and "4 houses on boardwalk" refers to the location, across from the 4th house after park avenue.  With various versions of monopoly available on almost every gaming system ever made, the threat is grave particularly considering the invention of far more deadly online Monopoly games which can be played anywhere.

   Picture of Osama Bin Ladin playing monopoly after the jump.

Cyberterrorism is a relatively new and ever evolving form of terrorism. The 2007 attacks on Estonia and President Yushchenko are proof of the damage that can be done when such efforts are concentrated. With that being said, this is an almost comical story to me.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!

*deep breath*

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!

*wipes tears from eyes*

And to think some of you advocate additional government spending... This is what those morons are bound to do with it if given more money.

Instead of WoW, the "terrorists" could just set up an IRC channel and talk about blowing up "the White House" instead of "the White Keep" and instead of collecting "gold", they could just about the 72 virgins they're going to score in the wake of the explosion.

I know that, deep down, we all have a hidden fear that Blizzard is going to take over the world with World of Warcraft but this borders on the ridiculous.

China has already been throughout security systems multiple times.. they even shutdown our entire defense network before. we should be more preparing for something else then communications through a game.