On September 25th, 2011, Deborah Amos reported for NPR on how the Syrian government has turned to pro-government hackers to attack anti-government activists and their cause.  Calling themselves the Syrian Electronic Army, the pro-government hackers have flooded Facebook, Newsweek, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and actor Brad Pitt and television personality Oprah Winfrey's web sites  to refute reports that Syria's uprising is a demand for political freedom.

Jillian York, a member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, characterized the Syrian Electronic Army's activities as the "most intense cyberwarfare in the Arab world."  York went to say that although it is uncertain whether the Syrian Electronic Army is  part of the Syrian regime, Syrian President Bashar Assad saluted the Electronic Army during a speech.

Josh Landis, an American academic, believes that Iran has helped the Syrian government on how to use cybercapabilities against anti-government protesters.  Landis pointed out that the anti-government movement may lose momentum if   "young voices that are sympathetic to the regime . . . begin countering the message demonizing Syria . . . because the message is just going to be so one-sided."  In effect, the Electronic Army has countered the protester's demand for change with a message of fear.  Activist Amr Sadek said that Syrian authorities force arrested activists to stay online by Syrian authorities; the authorities then use the activist's account to gather intelligence and learn about other activists' moves.   

The original article can be found here.

On September 25th, 2011, Deborah Amos reported for NPR on how the Syrian government has turned to pro-government hackers to attack anti-government activists and their cause.  Calling themselves the Syrian Electronic Army, the pro-government hackers have flooded Facebook, Newsweek, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and actor Brad Pitt and television personality Oprah Winfrey's web sites  to refute reports that Syria's uprising is a demand for political freedom.

Jillian York, a member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, characterized the Syrian Electronic Army's activities as the "most intense cyberwarfare in the Arab world."  York went to say that although it is uncertain whether the Syrian Electronic Army is  part of the Syrian regime, Syrian President Bashar Assad saluted the Electronic Army during a speech.

Josh Landis, an American academic, believes that Iran has helped the Syrian government on how to use cybercapabilities against anti-government protesters.  Landis pointed out that the anti-government movement may lose momentum if   "young voices that are sympathetic to the regime . . . begin countering the message demonizing Syria . . . because the message is just going to be so one-sided."  In effect, the Electronic Army has countered the protester's demand for change with a message of fear.  Activist Amr Sadek said that Syrian authorities force arrested activists to stay online by Syrian authorities; the authorities then use the activist's account to gather intelligence and learn about other activists' moves.   

The original article can be found here.

On September 25th, 2011, Deborah Amos reported for NPR on how the Syrian government has turned to pro-government hackers to attack anti-government activists and their cause.  Calling themselves the Syrian Electronic Army, the pro-government hackers have flooded Facebook, Newsweek, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and actor Brad Pitt and television personality Oprah Winfrey's web sites  to refute reports that Syria's uprising is a demand for political freedom.

Jillian York, a member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, characterized the Syrian Electronic Army's activities as the "most intense cyberwarfare in the Arab world."  York went to say that although it is uncertain whether the Syrian Electronic Army is  part of the Syrian regime, Syrian President Bashar Assad saluted the Electronic Army during a speech.

Josh Landis, an American academic, believes that Iran has helped the Syrian government on how to use cybercapabilities against anti-government protesters.  Landis pointed out that the anti-government movement may lose momentum if   "young voices that are sympathetic to the regime . . . begin countering the message demonizing Syria . . . because the message is just going to be so one-sided."  In effect, the Electronic Army has countered the protester's demand for change with a message of fear.  Activist Amr Sadek said that Syrian authorities force arrested activists to stay online by Syrian authorities; the authorities then use the activist's account to gather intelligence and learn about other activists' moves.   

The original article can be found here.