Islamic terrorist groups have used combinations of ancient guerrilla warfare
tactics and advanced technologies to carry out their goals. They have shown
themselves to be practitioners of unconventional warfare by staging
operations around the globe against high-visibility, high-value targets,
using very small teams, producing dramatic results with relatively little
expenditure, all without ever engaging in direct battlefield attacks against
an opposing military force.

While there has been much discussion in the public realm regarding terrorist
groups' use of centuries-old means of communications (use of human couriers)
and financial transactions (such as "hawallah" a form of unlicensed money
transfer business) to avoid detection in their operations by global
intelligence services, there are clear indications that terrorist groups are
willing to use and manipulate the conveniences of Western technology when it
makes sense for them to do so. Discussions in the public arena between law
enforcement and terrorism investigators and the private sector revealed that
there is a lack of authoritative unclassified materials concerning the use
of cyber technology by Islamic terrorist groups.This briefing is the result
of research specifically designed to meet this need. Examining the Cyber
Capabilities of Islamic Terrorist Groups details how cyber technologies are
exploited by these hostile entities.



Andrew Macpherson, Assistant Research Professor, University of New
Hampshire, Justiceworks

Mr. Macpherson is a Research Assistant Professor of Justice Studies in the
University of New Hampshire, Justiceworks program and serves as the director
of the Technical Analysis Group. TAG is currently supporting the New
Hampshire Attorney General's office and state law enforcement partners as
they increase the state's capabilities to respond to cyber crimes. Mr.
Macpherson also advises the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
Training and Technical Assistance Program on strategic planning. Mr.
Macpherson has served as an advisor to the Department of Homeland Security
National Cyber Security Division on state and local law enforcement matters.
Prior to his appointment at the University of New Hampshire Mr. Macpherson
served at Dartmouth College's Institute for Security Technology Studies. In
his role as Technical Program Coordinator he received funding from the
Department of Homeland Security Office for Domestic Preparedness and
National Institute of Justice for research efforts including the studies
titled Examining the Cyber Capabilities of Islamic Terrorist Groups and Law
Enforcement Tools and Technologies for Investigating Cyber Attacks: A
National Research and Development Agenda. Prior to his work at Dartmouth Mr.
Macpherson served at the United Nations Criminal Tribunal for the Former
Yugoslavia and Cognos Inc. He is a graduate of the London School of
Economics where he received his M.A. in the History of International
Relations. Mr. Macpherson earned his undergraduate degree, cum laude, at
Mercyhurst College in the Research Intelligence Analysts Program. Mr.
Macpherson was named one of the top 40 under 40 in New Hampshire for 2007 by
the Union Leader newspaper. The award honors 40 individuals, under the age
of 40, who are making a difference in the state.