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Taliban Pose as Hotties to Dupe Soldiers on Facebook

Australian officials warn troops to be cautious online

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 8, 2012 2:31 PM CDT

(Newser) – That attractive woman befriending you on Facebook? She may be a Taliban soldier in disguise, trying to squeeze you for vital information—at least if you're an Australian soldier, The Sunday Telegraph reports. An Australian government review found that Taliban had duped unsuspecting Aussie soldiers online, that 1,577 members of the nation's defense office knew nothing about it, and 58% of its staff had no instruction in social media.

What's more, the review says, soldiers are too trusting online: "Most did not recognize that people using fake profiles, perhaps masquerading as school friends, could capture information and movements." The review also warns that a technology called geo-tagging can enable enemies to spot the location where posts are uploaded or photos are taken. And Australian soldiers have some cause for concern: Three were killed in their own base this month, possibly by a trainee in the Afghan Army.

Social media: a possible minefield for troops serving in Afghanistan.
Social media: a possible minefield for troops serving in Afghanistan.   (Shutterstock)
In this Jan. 4, 2004, file photo, soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division and 1st Infantry Division enjoy some computer time in their camp's newly-opened Internet cafe near Fallujah, Iraq.
In this Jan. 4, 2004, file photo, soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division and 1st Infantry Division enjoy some computer time in their camp's newly-opened Internet cafe near Fallujah, Iraq.   (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 15 comments
schmidtkoff
Sep 9, 2012 5:45 PM CDT
remembering the early days of "cyberspace", aol, compuserve and prodigy - well one thing i will always remember: a cartoon/picture of a dog at a computer. caption read: "on the internet, no one knows if you are a dog." 'nuff said.
saucier111
Sep 9, 2012 12:16 PM CDT
We need to dress some of our troops up in burkas in the outer villages. This will make the enemy a lot more nervous and causious as they will walk into traps set by our GI's. We are not over there to win, we are over there because incorporations want their resources.
HANKHILL
Sep 9, 2012 10:44 AM CDT
best lol of the month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if you are so dumbazz as to fall for that one, go say hi to mr. darwin. lol x9999999999999
 

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