Article

2008-02-27 Terror Networks

U.S. Spies Want to Find Terrorists in World of Warcraft (Wired Mag)

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Posted by 3dc 2008-02-27 20:34|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top

#1 Just get the damned Chinese Gold Farmers and scammers off the servers and we'll be damned happy to have ya there..

Posted by OldSpook 2008-02-27 21:11|| 2008-02-27 21:11|| Front Page Top

#2 Bit of hyperbole on the part of the author:

The Reynard project will begin by profiling online gaming behavior, then potentially move on to its ultimate goal of "automatically detecting suspicious behavior and actions in the virtual world."

Not like online gaming hasn't been used as a social laboratory before - agencies have studied the external trade of online in-game items (including fabrication) for applicability to the real world.

Posted by Pappy 2008-02-27 21:12|| 2008-02-27 21:12|| Front Page Top

#3 Actally what they are talking about it using the games for online meetings, info exchange, etc. The games become a covert channel. Not to mention they can do "virtual run-through" with a bit of skill in their setups.

Teaching people to coordinate actions on different parts of the globe, with nothing but a "walkie talkie" style voice comm... I'd say thats a nice tool.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-02-27 21:13|| 2008-02-27 21:13|| Front Page Top

#4 Hmm. Terrorists in WoW?

Just wondering, but do they all preferentially play paladins?

Posted by Abdominal Snowman 2008-02-27 21:19|| 2008-02-27 21:19|| Front Page Top

#5 they're afraid of Unreal Tournament, cuz I'd smoke em with a flack cannon

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-02-27 21:55|| 2008-02-27 21:55|| Front Page Top

#6 Well, Rainbow6 and the other "tactical shooters" can certainly teach the basics of operations, team management and comms. These are games where there are no powerups, where if you get show you go down, and where the enemy isn't stupid.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-02-27 22:04|| 2008-02-27 22:04|| Front Page Top

#7 Well, I wish these intel agents luck looking at EVE Online, the game I play. Considering that corporate and alliance level espionage and sabotage happen daily in it, and planted spies and corporate thieves are a serious problem, I'm not sure even the intel community could keep up with it.

Posted by Silentbrick">Silentbrick 2008-02-27 22:20|| 2008-02-27 22:20|| Front Page Top

#8 OK...first off:
RTFO OldSpook... get those bastids off pronto. And Rainbow 6, squad level infantry tactics - very handy indeed.
Snowman: As lvl 70 Holy Spec Pally, I take offense. Everyone knows a terr is almost always gonna take the form of a rogue...a gnome rogue almost assuredly.
FrankG: Flak Cannon is an outstanding weapon. I blame the Pelosi Congress for not speeding delivery of said weapon to our troops in theater.
SilentBrick: hmmmmmm Eve you say... sounds like a training module for our side. FTW!

Posted by Rex Mundi 2008-02-27 23:26|| 2008-02-27 23:26|| Front Page Top

#9 Ima complete Void on 'puter games, wouldn't know a beamer from a lemur or a dreamer.. nener nener!

Posted by RD 2008-02-27 23:54|| 2008-02-27 23:54|| Front Page Top

23:54 RD
23:26 Rex Mundi
23:05 Clem Sheck9754
23:02 charger
22:53 Clem Sheck9754
22:49 CB
22:29 Pholugum Stalin1270
22:29 Pholugum Stalin1270
22:20 Silentbrick
22:11 Procopius2k
22:10 Redneck Jim
22:04 OldSpook
21:55 Frank G
21:54 trailing wife
21:40 Eric Jablow
21:21 JosephMendiola
21:19 Abdominal Snowman
21:13 OldSpook
21:12 Pappy
21:11 OldSpook
21:06 trailing wife
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21:03 Anonymoose
21:02 trailing wife