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
Taliban Pose as Hotties to Dupe Soldiers on Facebook
Social media: a possible minefield for troops serving in Afghanistan.   (Shutterstock)

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. (More Facebook stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X