Al Qaeda computer experts will begin an expanding attack on Western Web sites beginning Nov. 11, according to a report. Some security experts have dismissed the report, calling talk of an impending "electronic jihad" little more than static. Others, however, said improving tools could make such an assault a distinct possibility.
A report that an "electronic jihad" will be launched against 15 anti-Muslim Web sites by al Qaeda has stirred up the network security community.
While some have viewed the warning with skepticism, others are reluctant to put such an idea past the capabilities or desires of the terrorist organization.
The source of the e-Jihad report is the Israeli Web site DEBKAfile. It reported Tuesday that its counter-terror sources intercepted an announcement in Arabic on Monday describing the attack.
Al Qaeda computer experts will begin on Nov. 11, unleashing attacks on Western, Jewish, Israeli, Muslim apostate and Shiite Web sites, according to the report. They will begin, the report asserts, by testing their skills on 15 targeted sites, then expand the operation to include hundreds of thousands of hackers attacking a multitude of sites.
Cyberterrorism announcements like this have a track record of fizzling, according to Kent E. Anderson, managing director of Network Risk Management in Portland, Ore.
"I find it a little difficult to believe that they’re going to have hundreds of thousands of online Jihadists," he told TechNewsWorld. "There seems to be a little bit of hype put into this.
"I’m not dismissing it outright," he added, "but I am saying we should view it with caution."