Hacking the Jihad

Usually, my feelings about hackers range from amusement to resentment. I hate the idea of busting up a perfectly good computer because some 15 year old had nothing better to do than sit around and create a virus. I also don't like the elder statesmen of the cyber underworld having a go at my identity.

Then comes this story in the Washington Post, and I suddenly feel a little better about the digital anarchists who inhabit the world of the internet. Apparently, a hacker going by "Laura Mansfield" is breaking Al Qaeda videos before Al Qaeda can distribute them. Here's a sample of "her" work:



The video originally appeared at lauramansfield.com, which is a URL that doesn't currently function. That was funny, but then I came to the part of the article that warmed my heart.

"A similar event occurred Friday, when another group beat al-Qaeda by nearly a full day with the release of the first video images of bin Laden to appear publicly since 2004. That group, the SITE Institute, provided the tape to government agencies and news organizations at a time when many well-known jihadist Web sites had been shut down in a powerful cyberattack by unknown hackers.

It was the latest round of electronic warfare between al-Qaeda and a small community of individuals and companies that troll the Internet for messages from terrorists -- as a livelihood, a personal obsession or both. Often, the groups compete to be the first to find and post a new video or message. Frequently, they accomplish their goal several steps ahead of government agencies who turn to them for the material.

Since Friday, at least three high-profile video messages have been snatched from al-Qaeda-affiliated Web sites by groups using a combination of computer tricks, personal connections and ingenuity to find and download password-protected content. For some, it is a mission rife with contradictions: They maintain that they are seeking to serve their country while ensuring wide distribution of the words and images of terrorists intent on the destruction of the United States. They said their aim is to undermine support for the cause by disseminating what they consider to be outrageous statements."

Nothing is more dangerous in cyberspace than the ire of a group of angry hackers. No word yet on whether or not Al Qaeda will be sending its stooges back to programming school, but I suspect it won't matter. The boys in Al Qaeda have to take time off to go to the Mosque and get their marching orders. The hackers can work for weeks on end with only energy drinks and microwaveable food.

Trust me, Osama, I run into these guys when they're vacationing in the World of Warcraft. The don't eat much, rarely sleep and they LIVE to win. Al Qaeda would be better off stoking the campfire and going to smoke signals. Once the hackers decide you're done, the net is no longer an option.

God bless these hackers. As for the ones who are constantly breaking stuff, take a cue from these guys and use your dark magic for the good of humanity...