Al-Qaeda Used Basic Codes, Calling Cards, Hotmail

jd writes "In startling revelations, convicted terrorist Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri admitted that Al Qaeda used public telephones, pre-paid calling cards, search engines and Hotmail. Al-Marri 'used a '10-code' to protect the [phone] numbers — subtracting the actual digits in the phone numbers from 10 to arrive at a coded number.' The real story behind all this is that the terrorists weren't using sophisticated methods to avoid detection or monitoring — which tells us just how crappy SIGINT really is right now. If the NSA needs to wiretap the whole of the US because they can't break into a Hotmail account, you know they've got problems. FindLaw has a copy of al-Marri's plea agreement (the tech-related information begins on page 12), and the LA Times has further details on his case."

Ban it!

[lastninja]

Ok thats it! We need to ban public telephones, pre-paid calling cards, search engines and Hotmail! I have also heard that the terrorist eat food! If we ban all production of food we will starve those bastards to death! Who is with me!

Twitter

[Swizec]

If we could just somehow get most everyone in the world addicted to frequently publishing short bursts of information on a public channel, more specifically answers to the "What are you up to?" question ...

Twitter is the NSA's answer to wiretapping allegations. That's why it's able to grow so quickly without a business model.

Basic Codes?

[Anonymous Coward]

10: INPUT "WHO ARE THE INFIDELS", A$
20: PRINT "1. DEATH TO ", A$
30: INPUT "ARE THE PEOPLE STILL ENRAGED?", B$
40: IF B$ = "N" or "n" THEN GOTO 10
50: PRINT "2. ..."
60: PRINT "3. Profit!"
70: END

Hotmail? Really?

[downix]

Let's see the Al Qaeda inbox a moment:

230 dead as storm batters Europe -- Storm Botnet
Make Money Fast ---- Dave Rhodes
REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP ----- Nigel Soladu
LETS BOMB TWIN TOWERS ---- Osama Bin Laden
Magically grow 3"!!! ---- Miraclgrowz
I AM FORMER MINISTER OF FINANCE FOR BANK OF NIGERIA ---- CLEMET OKON

How did they plan anything like this?

Re:Really? What Exacty Is Your Suggestion?

[SIR_Taco]

[e-mail] might have given it away.

Re:Really? What Exacty Is Your Suggestion?

[elucido]

It's not too hard.

Put a bug in their basement.

Hmm...

[denzacar]

You may be onto something.

Have you considered applying for a job at your local government's intelligence agency?
From your keen understanding of codes and cyphers, seems like you may be just the kind of expert they are looking for.

Re:Really? What Exacty Is Your Suggestion?

[Anonymous Coward]

I mean, you can tap and analyze every cable satellite and radio transmission in the world and still be completely oblivious to a small group of people in a basement somewhere.

Is that a reference to /.ers?

jk

Re:Ban it!

[ashtophoenix]

I am okay with banning hotmail.

Re:Message for Osama Bin Laden

[russotto]

"The bread is blue".

(Let's see how 'SIGINT' decodes that...)

The FDA will be there shortly to confiscate your unlicensed penicillin.

Re:Really? What Exacty Is Your Suggestion?

[DamienNightbane]

What's needed is informers, agents and detective work.

Maybe the NSA should just start posting on 4chan.

IRC?

[failedlogic]

The summary (I did not RTFA), there is no mention of using IRC. Though in one of the channels the other day, Osama was there!

Here's the transcript as I remember it:

#WindowsHelp
IBeenHiding > mi Windoze crashed, hlp!
j89423432 > fu noob, g00gle it!
IBeenHiding >???? need hlp plz!
j89423432 > ha ha ha !!!!
IBeenHiding > shut up! i am da Al-Queda leadr
j89423432 > ????
IBeenHiding > it is me Osama
j89423432 > F U! No you're not!
IBeenHiding > stop it. I am Osama you ass!
j89423432 > ok i believe u
IBeenHiding > thnk u, kneel b4 me!
j89423432 > look behind u
IBeenHiding > ???? is that u
j89423432 > this is da CIA
IBeenHiding > oh shit!
j89423432 > UR dead!
IBeenHiding has left the chat room