An ISIS-supporting cybersecurity group that launched cloud and chat platforms last month warned followers that their Android downloads could be leaving them “vulnerable to penetration and targeting.”
The Electronic Horizons Foundation, which launched in January 2016 as an IT help desk of sorts to walk ISIS supporters through how to encrypt their communications and otherwise avoid detection online while coordinating with and recruiting jihadists, regularly issues cyber news, guidelines and advisories such as an “important warning” earlier this year telling supporters that “spies of intelligence agencies are using a new method to track down supporters through Google Play Store” — specifically, a custom app that “collects identifiable information of android phones.”
Their new alert lists the Play Store as an authoritative source for downloads and tries to steer ISIS supporters away from less reputable download sources.
“A widespread danger and threat, which we have repeatedly warned from, which is downloading applications in APK [Android Package Kit] format from unknown sources,” said the new alert, which was posted on the group’s website in Arabic, English, and French. “The curse of corrupted files targeting the munasirin [supporter] has spread, and most of those who fall into the traps of this matter are simple munasirin, who do not have technical experience in examining corrupted or suspicious files.”
“Based on the risks, threats, and news…
