Recruiting Agents Via Electronic Espionage: Lebanon Faces Threats
Local Editor
Lebanon again to the security front.
However, this time the front widened to reach every Lebanese house, institution, and computer.
The curse of technology isn't limited to social problems but to a major threat to the country's security resembled by: foreign security agents.
In this context, the Lebanese Army warned Thursday that "suspicious foreign security agencies are attempting to collect information through electronic query efforts."
On the aim of such moves, the LA explained " they seek to recruit collaborators and spread malicious programs to collect information from social networks and Lebanese computers."
Thus, the main aim is recruiting agents. This comes as Lebanon became known for its complacency with "Israeli" agents, who breaches the country's sovereignty to be later awarded by a judicial release by one signature.
Meanwhile, technical sources specialized in the hacking activities informed al-Ahed news site that, "the sites that the LA warned usually set ads to collect security information."
Among these sites, the experts mentioned the one that states: "If you have any information about Ron Arad or any other "Israeli" soldiers missing in Lebanon, call ..."
In this context, the sources pointed out that these numbers are usually "Israeli" or British. "They usually ask for information about a particular incident in exchange for a money."
According to the sources, some of these websites publish photographs of some Lebanese asking for information about their relationships, whereabouts, and the last time to be seen.
"These sites also work on training their agents to use stealth programs so as not to be spotted by Internet providers and Lebanese security agents," they added.
Regarding the "Bulk SMS", the technical sources noted that "their mechanism of espionage is similar to those of websites."
"They send messages requesting information about the person himself or other people an in turn promise with sums of money after calling the number provided in the message," al-Ahed news sources said.
In response, the LA urged the Lebanese citizens to directly notify it in case they receive any suspicious message on informing@lebarmy.gov.lb.
Moreover, sources informed al-Ahed news that the LA technical department is behind the uncover. They also noted that "the LA's statement came as a warning and in the context of the fight against piracy in Lebanon and attempts to recruit collaborators through "BULK SMS" and websites."
In parallel, they confirmed that "there are "hackers" working to gather information on Lebanon and recruit agents."
"The "Israeli" enemy comes on top of these foreign agents" the sources stated , and pointed out that "the LA is working to track, monitor, and arrest these hackers before referring them to the judicial authorities."
Meanwhile, al-Manar channel reported the "LA has taken precautionary measures by preventing the entrance of smart phones to its institutions."
For his part, the retired LA General Amin Hotait hailed and thanked the LA for its LA role in unveiling these security breaches and prerving the Lebanse sovereignty.In remarks to al-Ahed news site, Hotait confirmed that "despite all their setbacks, the Zionist entity and the Western agencies, targeting Lebanon in general and the resistance in particular, still innovate sophisticated means for the dissemination of espionage networks."
"They take advantage of new technologies and the vulnerability of some Lebanese, who lack awareness when working on the Internet," the military expert added.
Furthermore, he indicated that "many people might fall in the "Israeli" trap and then be difficult to be discovered."
Hotait also revealed that "these devices are "Israeli" in the first place and some of them belong to regional intelligence agencies that became supervised by "Israel" and openly declare hostility to the resistance."
"Other agencies are Western," he added.
On the confrontation of these threats, the retired General emphasized that "we are facing a new type of espionage."
"The Lebanese judiciary must prosecute all who collaborate with these agencies," he said, expressing regret that the judicial rulings against the "Israeli" agents weren't appropriate to their offense."
In conclusion, Hotait said: "The rulings aren't compatible to the threats."
Source: al-Ahed news, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
