Hackers block Qaeda’s 9/11 terror on tape

The Hindustan Times ^ | 9/13/08 | Pramit Pal Chaudhuri

[Dawnsblood]

Hackers prevented Al Qaeda from releasing a videotape to mark the seventh anniversary of 9/11. Al Qaeda has traditionally issued a video or audiotape by either Osama bin Laden or Ayman al Zawahiri, the terror network’s two leaders, to mark their massive terrorist attack on the US.

As-Sahab, Al Qaeda’s media unit, had indicated earlier this week that it would post such a videotape on September 11. As-Sahab had banner images on the internet showing a silhouetted head with a question mark and the words, “Wait 11 September”.

The US-based intelligence group IntelCenter had speculated the video would be a message from Osama or Zawahiri with a recording of the last will and testament of Mohammed Atta, one of the leaders of the 9/11 attackers.

Sources close to US intelligence said, “Hackers knocked out Al Qaeda’s online means of communication, thus preventing them from posting anything to commemorate the anniversary.”

Western intelligence suspects two hackers who have targeted Islamicist sites before were responsible: Aaron Weisburd from Internet Haganah and Rusty Shackleford from the web group My Pet Jawa.

Both have been active in ongoing Internet battle between Islamicist hackers and their opponents.

[Dawnsblood]

BTW Dr Shackleford says he did not do it but admits he would say that even if he did.

[reagan_fanatic]

LOL

[Stonewall Jackson]

Kudos to this mystery warrior. There are many ways of fighting Al-Qaeda. This is just one of them.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Western intelligence suspects two hackers who have targeted Islamicist sites before were responsible: Aaron Weisburd from Internet Haganah and Rusty Shackleford from the web group My Pet Jawa.

Way to go Rusty & Aaron, even if they didn't do this one.

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

[mosquewatch]

Although the videos are offensive , filthy and garbage I believe the American people need to see these videos.

Blocking these videos does more harm, than good in my opinion. We don't need to forget, we need a daily dose every day what these 7th century vermic scum desire for us.

Our death.

[elhombrelibre]

The geeks win one for the West ping.

[elhombrelibre]

Cyber war ping.

[Cacique]

btt

[A CA Guy]

Why would anyone on our side give names out like that?

[Roccus]

Dale Gribble (AKA) Rusty Shackleford

[Marine_Uncle]

A hand salute to the hackers this time around.

[elhombrelibre]

Definitely.

[zadox]

Good for them! ah... its Allah's will, the web site is down agian...
The Hackers left a picture of a Penguin with a gun
Linux users with the right attitude.

[trooprally]

Most excellent for them. If anyone wants to help take down terrorist videos on YouTube, check out the monthly SmackDown Threads by StarCMC and Celebrimbor.

[Mr] T

[singfreedom]

I can't believe they printed these two gentlemen’s names! That seems like a REAL stupid thing to do!

[huldah1776]

Hindustan Times—

[KoRn]

/mark

[dools007]

The problem is that these videos are used by AlQ to recruit. Just as well they are not broadcast. Moreover, we have a presidential election in progress. We will be reminded of 9/11 many times in the next 8 or so weeks.

[realcleanguy]

Does anyone know where Al Qeada is piggybacking on a web site right now? It would be interesting to start flooding the site so it slows down at least

[Dawnsblood]

Aaron's website give a couple of hints without giving any direct links. Rusty ( a few days back) reported that a site named Al-EKHLASS.NET had something to do with it, but that is all I know.

[struggle]

[jveritas]

As a person who monitors the terrorist forums daily, in particular Ekhlaas terrorist forum, I would tell you that no one knows why Ekhlaas has been down since 9/11/2008. May be it is hackers, may be not. In my opinion the website was shut down by the Malaysian ISP that hosts it. This ISP is called PIRADIUS. However it is hard for me to be sure about that.

It is true that Ekhlaas has a banner saying that they were going to broadcast something from Zawahiri about the seventh anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks but this may have been the same video that was broadcast by Al Jazeera on 9/10/2008 and because Al Jazeera only broadast portions of the tape I believe that Ekhlaas wanted to broadcast the whole tape.

I will keep you updated.

[jveritas]

I believe that it is not a good idea to involve these two good guys, Weisburd and Dr. Rusty in a hacking job that they did not do. First and foremost it is illegal to hack websites even if they belong to terrorists because the hackers are not only attacking the terrorist website but the ISP that hosts it. The only legal way to shut down a terrorist website is to ask the ISP that hosts it to shut it down and this has been the only tactic that have been used by terrorist forums hunters including myself, Dr. Rusty, Aaron Weisburd and many others.

[jveritas]

No, Ekhlaas terrorist forum has been down since 9/11/2008 with no backup. However Al Qaeda has other terrorist forums such as Al Hesbah which the second largest terrorist forum. Ekhlaas is the largest terrorist forum on the internet with over 57,000 members. Also the two other main Al Qaeda terrorist forum Al Firdaws and Al-Boraq have been down for weeks and both were hosted by the same Malaysian ISP that hosted Ekhlaas, the ISP is called PIRADIUS.

[lrb111]

ping

[jveritas]

Update:

I just learned from looking at another terrorist forum that Ekhlaas terrorist forum is sort of back up. Those are the two new links that they posted http://www.e-kl-s.com/ and http://www.e-kl-s.net/. However you will get the main page but then the forum goes to "data base error". Both URL have the same IP address 124.217.231.218. These URL are also hosted by the Malaysian ISP called PIRADIUS.

[Velveeta]

bookmark

[penelopesire]

bookmark!

[rintense]

I have a very soft spot for dogooder hackers. :)

[elhombrelibre]

Thanks for your insight.

[ebiskit]

“Why would anyone on our side give names out like that?”

Subversive, fifth-column types or just an idiot.

[ShadowAce]

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

Why aren’t these guys on US Government payrolls?

Denial of communications to the enemy ~command and control~ is good military thinking. Support or oppose the war, makes no difference. This is still good thinking, and a needed part of an overall military strategy.

They should get some compensation for this kind of work, and not have to rely on PayPal donations.

After all, they’re doing a service to the US government.

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

Why would anyone on our side give names out like that?

Couple of things in play there.

Hackers are a competitive lot. This is not a government effort...even though IMO, it should be...at least these guys should get compensated for good work.

Publishing of names serves as a recruitment tool for other hackers to "join in the fun".

Think about it: Al Qaeda command and control taken out. Kinda hard to coordinate activities without commo, eh?

i doubt that these people are really concerned for their safety. This conclusion is drawn from the comments on the link posted in this thread. Apparently some of them are looking forward to having these islamawackos take exception, and appear to be eager to make them become martyrs for allah should they try and do anything about it.

[antiRepublicrat]

I can't believe they printed these two gentlemen’s names! That seems like a REAL stupid thing to do!

They're already well-known for fighting Al Qaeda online. Besides, if Al Qaeda wants to go after a guy really named Rusty Shackleford they're going to have to go to cartoon land, King of the Hill to be precise.