London: Terrorists and extremists are creating a number of safe havens on the "dark net" to plot future attacks, raise funds and recruit new followers, according to new research published on Sunday.
Researchers for the Henry Jackson Society, a foreign policy think tank, have said that terrorist organisations and individuals are evading security services and intelligence agencies by "hiding in the shadows" of the dark net, using encrypted messaging services, to communicate and anonymous cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin to generate funds, reports the Guardian.
The groups have also been able to create a reservoir of extremist propaganda, saving it from deletion by the security services or tech companies.
The researchers said that the current encrypted communication app of choice is Telegram, which the Islamic State has encouraged members to use, with messages including explanations on how to access new dark net sites linked to the group.
In November 2017, an Al Qaeda-linked organisation called al-Sadaqah used a public channel on Telegram to campaign for bitcoin funding.
The report's author, Nikita Malik, said: "We have denied Islamic State territory in the real world, but it has a whole new safe haven in cyberspace which we need first to understand and then to close down."
Malik identified numerous sites on the dark net that explain how to make TATP - triacetone triperoxide - which can be made from household chemicals and was used in the jihadi attacks in Paris in November 2015, Brussels in March 2016, Manchester in May 2017 and London in September 2017, the Guardian reported.
A preliminary search by Malik in January on the dark net found 1,101 results for instructional material related to "security", including guides on drugs, fraud, hacking and firearms.
"The Anarchist Cookbook", which contains bomb-making instructions, was available for sale for 0.0003 bitcoin - around 1.45 pounds.
- Kerala Local Body Polls 2020
- ISL 2020-21
- Techspectations 2020
- COVID-19
- IPL 2020
- ISL 2019
- Union Budget 2019
- World Cup 2019
- IPL 2019
- K M Mani - End of an Era
- Lok Sabha Elections 2019
- Kerala Budget 2019
- Assembly Elections 2018
- AB Vajpayee: An Era Ends
- ISL 2018-19
- Asian Games 2018
- Karunanidhi no more
- SOCCER CZAR 2018
- World Environment Day
- Kurinji Tales From Munnar
- Chengannur Bypoll
- Battle for Karnataka
- CWG 2018
- IPL 2018
- Jab They Met
- Kerala Budget 2018
- Union Budget 2018
- Blog It Onmanorama
- Kalolsavam 2017-18
- Vacation Wall
- Assembly Elections 2017
- International Film Festival of Kerala 2017 | Kerala Film festival | IFFK Awards | Onmanorama
- International Film Festival Of India 2017 | Goa Film festival | IFFI Awards | Onmanorama
- ISL Soccer Blast
- DeMon: A year after
- FIFA U-17 World Cup
- T20 @ Greenfield
- Currency Chaos
- Vengara By-election
- GST Fallout
- Riding the Kochi Metro
- Prez Polls
- MM News Conclave 2017
- Champions Trophy
- One Year of LDF Govt
- Malappuram By-Election 2017
- IPL 2017
- Assembly Polls 2017
- Kerala Budget 2017-18
- OSCARS 2017
- Union Budget 2017
- State School Youth Fest
- Looking Ahead 2017
- Yearender @2016
- Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2016
- After Jaya
- IFFK 2016
- Techspectations
- IFFI 2016
- Cyrus Mystery
- Nepotism Row
- ISL 2016
- Cauvery Crisis
- Vigilance Goes After Graft
- The ISIS Threat in Kerala
- Women under attack
- Startup Hub
- Solar Scam
- IFFK 2015
- IFFI 2015
- ISL 2015
- ISL 2014
- LS Polls 2014
- The real world where we don't belong
- Why rolling your eyes at feminists isn’t helping anyone
- Transcendence of Death in the Harry Potter Series
- The super fun day in NYC
- NY blizzard 2016
- Technology – a boon or bane?
- 'Jesus Christ Superstar' reloaded
- Cars with a unique 'fit'
- Migrant workers send home 4 per cent of Kerala's GDP
- Aarushi Talwar- Book, movie, life
- Off the Patch
- Badminton: The best antidote to ageing
- Radhika Thilak, that gentle sweetness, is gone much before her time
- Don’t disturb, Supt. is in chatting mode
- Heading towards stronger foreign exchange reserves
- Natural cure for dandruff
- Neera, goodness in every drop
- Retirement is not 'the evening of life'
- Omar Sharif: Best bridge player in the world
- The employee is the King!
- KPP: The Unsung Voyager of Kerala Industry
- Saved by the Ringer
- Heal and feel at home
- Social media savvy cops setting example in Bengaluru
- Tribunal rejects claim on early conciliation number
- A Monk and His Girlfriend
- Priya Menon is all set to take Sankalp to the next level
- Sadly, politics trumps principles in Kerala!
- Welfare schemes for all those in need