french tv hack a step up in cyberjihadism
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Media » TV

French TV hack 'a step up' in cyberjihadism

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice French TV hack 'a step up' in cyberjihadism

French TV
Paris - AFP

The "unprecedented" cyber-attack on French television channel TV5Monde represents a major "step up" in the Internet warfare being waged by highly specialised jihadist hackers, experts said Thursday.
Since January's three-day Islamist attacks in Paris that killed 17 people, hackers have launched hundreds of assaults on French websites, from denial of service attacks that snarl up web traffic to full-scale hacks.
But taking over a television channel and blocking programming -- as happened to TV5Monde -- is another matter entirely, experts believe, an "unprecedented" attack, according to the station's boss Yves Bigot.
"This is certainly a step up," said Gilbert Ramsay, expert on cyberjihadism at Scotland's St. Andrews University.
"For years now, low-level cyber-attacks have been a routine part of Islamist mobilisation. They have published manuals on how to hack websites. But this is an escalation," he added.
What's more, they are almost impossible to trace, as they work in virtual teams and can be based anywhere in the world.
"Sometimes they don't even bother to hide their IP addresses," said one cyber-crime investigator, who did not wish to be identified.
"Cyberjihadist attacks are commonplace, but this is the first time they have been able to stop a television channel," this source said.
Like real-world "terrorism", these virtual warriors "come from all sorts of backgrounds," he added.
However, he said "investigations generally led towards the countries of North Africa."
- 'Global recruitment' -
Cyber-attacks are nothing new, stressed Daniel Martin, co-founder of the Paris-based Cyber Crime Institute.
Even during a wave of Algerian attacks on France in the 1990s there were "high-level IT experts capable of launching sophisticated attacks," he said.
"So we shouldn't be surprised, given the means at the disposal of the Islamic State, that they can afford the best specialists."
"Some people think that jihadists are low-brow terrorists, but that is not at all the case: they have considerable technical know-how," added Martin.
He said the attack on TV5Monde was probably months in the planning and would have required several hackers working in close coordination.
"We're not talking about a basic little hacker. We're not talking about amateurs. This time, they really did some damage."
As of late afternoon Thursday, the station was still able only to broadcast pre-recorded programmes but had regained control of its website.
Just hours before the attack, the Islamic State extremist group had published a video praising their "knights of the media" carrying out cyber-attacks and urged them to step up their efforts.
"They have global recruitment," said Martin.
"A bit like the Chinese army, which has set up cyberwarfare battalions, they are totally capable of doing the same thing."
Ramsay from St. Andrews University said he believed the jihadists had something to prove after recent military reverses -- notably in the Iraqi city of Tikrit.
"The IS fundamental theme is momentum: They want to show that they are on the offensive, on the ground and in cyberspace," he said.
"After the set-back in Tikrit, for example, it can be important for them to show that they can continue the struggle elsewhere."

 

GMT 22:54 2018 Saturday ,20 January

Dora: Her role in new drama is surprise

GMT 04:52 2017 Sunday ,18 June

Joyalukkas presents ¼kg gold

GMT 18:43 2017 Wednesday ,14 June

Tony Awards audience drops

GMT 18:38 2017 Wednesday ,14 June

‘Smash’ producers develop

GMT 15:23 2017 Sunday ,28 May

You still watch TV? Get video-on-demand

GMT 07:22 2017 Friday ,05 May

Macron 'Most Convincing' in TV Debate

GMT 04:06 2017 Thursday ,23 March

Piracy will never be defeated, TV executive says
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

french tv hack a step up in cyberjihadism french tv hack a step up in cyberjihadism

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

french tv hack a step up in cyberjihadism french tv hack a step up in cyberjihadism

 



GMT 10:08 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Microsoft to open 4 data centres

GMT 19:57 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Farm-fresh from Kerala to the UAE, in just one day

GMT 10:31 2014 Tuesday ,23 December

Mirages of failure: Lebanon cannot wait

GMT 00:54 2011 Saturday ,24 December

Super Barca crush Hospitalet in Copa Del Rey

GMT 17:44 2017 Sunday ,12 November

QSTec and Philippines Discuss Solar Power Cooperation

GMT 17:25 2016 Tuesday ,29 November

Philippine troops drop bombs on rebels

GMT 21:05 2017 Wednesday ,18 October

IOF fires at a 20-year-old Palestinian boy

GMT 23:38 2011 Thursday ,06 October

Rare albino alligator goes on show in US

GMT 04:40 2015 Tuesday ,22 September

Car bomb blast in Somali capital

GMT 19:50 2016 Thursday ,01 September

Car Bomb Explosion Rocks Afghan Logar

GMT 07:52 2011 Monday ,01 August

BS Yeddyurappa has resigned

GMT 11:23 2016 Thursday ,29 December

Colombia lawmakers pass FARC amnesty law

GMT 13:22 2011 Wednesday ,22 June

Michelle Obama urges AIDS fight
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice