Pogue’s Posts: A Reader’s Question: How Do You Hang Up on Voice Command?

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Hunting for Syrian Hackers’ Chain of Command

The hacking group that calls itself the S.E.A. struck again on Friday, this time breaking into the Twitter accounts and blog headlines of The Financial Times. The attack was part of a crusade that has targeted dozens of media outlets as varied as The Associated Press and The Onion, the parody news site.

But just who is behind the S.E.A.’s cybervandalism remains a mystery. Paralleling the group’s boisterous, pro-Syrian government activity has been a much quieter Internet surveillance campaign aimed at revealing the identities, activities and whereabouts of the Syrian rebels fighting the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

Now sleuths are trying to figure out how much overlap there is between the rowdy pranks playing out on Twitter and the silent spying that also increasingly includes the monitoring of foreign aid workers. It’s a high-stakes search. If researchers prove the Assad regime is closely tied to the group, foreign governments may choose to respond because the attacks have real-world consequences. The S.E.A. nearly crashed the stock market, for example, by planting false tales of White House explosions in a recent hijacking of The A.P.’s Twitter feed.

The mystery is made more curious by the belief among researchers that the hackers currently parading as the S.E.A. are not the same people who started the pro-Assad campaign two years ago.

Experts say the Assad regime benefits from the ambiguity. “They have created extra space between themselves and international law and international opinion,” said James A. Lewis, a security expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The S.E.A. emerged during the Syrian uprisings in May 2011, they said, to offer a pro-Assad counternarrative to news coming out of Syria. In speeches, Mr. Assad likened the S.E.A. to the government’s own online security corps, referring to the group as “a real army in a virtual reality.”

In its early incarnation, researchers said, the S.E.A. had a clearly defined hierarchy, with leaders, technical experts, a media arm and hundreds of volunteers. Several early members belonged to the Syrian Computer Society, a technical organization run by Mr. Assad before he became president. Until last month, digital records suggest, the Syrian Computer Society still ran much of the S.E.A.’s infrastructure. In April, a raid of S.E.A. Web domains revealed that the majority were still registered to the society.

S.E.A. members initially created pro-Assad Facebook pages and spammed popular pages like President Obama’s and Oprah Winfrey’s with pro-Syrian comments. But by the fall of 2011, S.E.A. activities had become more premeditated. They defaced prominent Web sites like Harvard University’s with pro-Assad messages, in an attack a spokesman characterized as sophisticated.

At some point, the S.E.A.’s crucial players disappeared and a second crop of hackers took over. The current group consists of roughly a dozen new actors led by hackers who call themselves “Th3 Pr0” and “The Shadow” and function more like Anonymous, the loose hacking collective, than a state-sponsored brigade. In interviews, people who now identify as the S.E.A. insist they operate independently from the Assad regime. But researchers who have been following the group’s digital trail aren’t convinced.

“The opportunity for collaboration between the S.E.A. and regime is clear, but what is missing is proof,” said Jacob West, a chief technology officer at Hewlett-Packard. As governments consider stronger responses to malicious cyberactivity, Mr. West said, “the motivation for Syria to maintain plausible deniability is very, very real.”

Long before the S.E.A’s apparent changing of the guard, security researchers unearthed a stealthier surveillance campaign targeting Syrian dissidents that has since grown to include foreign aid workers. Morgan Marquis-Boire, a researcher at the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, uncovered spyware with names like “Dark Comet” and “BlackShades” sending information back to a Syrian state-owned telecommunications company. The software — which tracked a target’s location, read e-mails and logged keystrokes — disguised itself as an encryption service for Skype, a program used by many Syrian activists.

Mr. Marquis-Boire has uncovered more than 200 Internet Protocol addresses running the spyware. Some were among the few kept online last week during an Internet disruption in Syria that the government blamed on a “technical malfunction,” but experts described as a systematic government shutdown.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: May 17, 2013

An earlier version of this article based on previous reporting referred incorrectly to a representative of The Financial Times, Ryann Gastwirth. She is a spokeswoman, not a spokesman.

Command Prompt Ep. 8 -- TF2 Co-op, Iron Brigade and Hero Academy

In an attempt to make sense of the chaotic mass we call PC gaming, IGN's Anthony Gallegos and Charles Onyett put together a video show called Command Prompt. Barring any disastrous events or prolonged spells of acute laziness, new episodes will appear every week showing off three PC games.

We are still learning the ropes as far as this new mode goes, but we take an initial dive into some hoard-mode like TF2 action.

This only just came out for PC, but Double Fine's take on tower defense is still every bit as fantastic as it was on Xbox 360. Read our review.

The hottest turn-based strategy game on iOS finally makes its way to PC. We check it out and throw down with the new TF2 team.

Charles Onyett is an Executive Editor at IGN, leads PC game coverage and used to think Pugna was his favorite Dota 2 hero, but recently decided it was Disruptor. You can follow him on Twitter and My IGN.

Anthony Gallegos is an Editor on IGN's PC team. He enjoys scaring the crap out of himself with horror games and then releasing some steam in shooters like Blacklight and Tribes. You can follow him on Twitter and on IGN.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.

Command Prompt 6: Tribes, Awesomenauts, More

Command Prompt 6: Tribes, Awesomenauts and Thirty Flights of Loving - IGN var IGN = IGN || {}; IGN.pagetype = "article"; var igndrones = igndrones || {};igndrones.async = igndrones.async || [];igndrones.async.push(function() { igndrones.init({"audience":{"csid":"C07583","property":"ign","object1_id":137897,"genre":"shooter","platform_id":20114,"pagetype":"article","topic_pc":"yes","topic_games":"yes"},"chartbeat":{"uid":"21105","domain":"ign.com","authors":"Anthony Gallegos","sections":"Desktop Web,articles"},"comscore":{"c2":"3000068"},"exelate":{"p":"373","g":"001","c":"901810","platform":"pc","genre":"action,adventure,shooter","ctg":"games"},"ga":{"account_number":"UA-23541058-1","_setDomainName":".ign.com","custom_vars":[[1,"pagetype","article",3],[2,"object-id","137897",3],[3,"article-id","501c6f2f9e4e8b42dabb8e6a",3],[4,"content-title","Command Prompt 6: Tribes, Awesomenauts and Thirty Flights of Loving",3],[5,"author","Anthony Gallegos",3],[6,"publish-date","2012-08-03",3],[12,"categories","ign.pc.pc-games",3],[13,"tags","awesomenauts.blendo.dtp-digital-entertainment-pool.games.hi-rez-studios.ronimo-games.thirty-flights-of-loving.tribes-ascend",3],[15,"action","articleview",3],[16,"controller","v2articles",3],[17,"module","default",3],[18,"resource","articles",3],[20,"is-community","no",3],[21,"signed-in","no",2],[22,"subscriber","no",1],[30,"object-name","Awesomenauts",3],[31,"object-type","games",3],[32,"platform-id","20114",3],[33,"platform-name","PC",3],[35,"platform-tags","pc",3],[36,"genre-tags","action.adventure.shooter",3]]}}); igndrones.fireTop();});SugarAds.adsData = {"adsDisabled":"false","dfp_network":"5691","dfp_adunit1":"IGN","resource":"articles","pagetype":"article","tags":["awesomenauts","blendo","dtp-digital-entertainment-pool","games","hi-rez-studios","ronimo-games","thirty-flights-of-loving","tribes-ascend"],"genres":["action","adventure","shooter"],"platforms":["pc"],"categories":["ign","pc","pc-games"],"route":"articles","year":"2012","article_id":"501c6f2f9e4e8b42dabb8e6a","object1_id":[137897,138374,103016],"genre":"shooter","platform_id":20114};SugarAds.renderAds(["side300x250","300x250","featured","2x2","prestitial","728x90","s728x90"]); Continue to document.write(document.title); » Learn how to disable this ad » Prime Newsfeed Latest View My Newsfeed » Xbox 360 PS3 Wii U PC Vita 3DS iPhone Tech Movies TV Comics Reviews Wikis & Cheats Upcoming News Videos Boards IPL Blogs Podcasts Blu-ray Games Sites Stars Awesomenauts | PC PS3MacXbox 360 | Release Date: August 1, 2012 Game Highlights Create Wiki Videos Walkthroughs Cheats Command Prompt 6: Tribes, Awesomenauts and Thirty Flights of Lovingby Anthony Gallegos August 3, 2012

In an attempt to make sense of the chaotic mass we call PC gaming, IGN's Anthony Gallegos and Charles Onyett put together a video show called Command Prompt. Barring any disastrous events or prolonged spells of acute laziness, new episodes will appear every week showing off three PC games.

For the sixth episode we're joined by Xbox Associate Editor Mitch Dyer as we take a look at Hi-Rez Studio's awesomely fast shooter Tribes: Ascend, learn what it's like to be beat down in a 2D MOBA in Awesomenauts and then explore the bizarre world of Thirty Flights of Loving.

Tribes: Ascend

Hi-Rez Studios manages to make a unique feeling first-person shooter with Tribes: Ascend's ridiculously fast and skill-demanding combat.

Awesomenauts

Who knew it was possible? Ronimo Games manages to take the MOBA or DoTA-style gameplay of League of Legends and Dota 2 and implement it in a 2D environment.

Thirty Flights of Loving

Blendo Games, creators of Gravity Bone and Atom Zombie Smasher follow up with a haunting and bizarre story that takes only minutes to play.

Charles Onyett is an Executive Editor at IGN, leads PC game coverage and used to think Pugna was his favorite Dota 2 hero, but recently decided it was Disruptor. You can follow him on Twitter and My IGN.

Anthony Gallegos is an Editor on IGN's PC team. He enjoys scaring the crap out of himself with horror games and then releasing some steam in shooters like Blacklight and Tribes. You can follow him on Twitter and on IGN.

Mitch Dyer is an Associate Editor with IGN. You can also follow Mitch on Twitter and IGN so he's not so scared and alone.

by Anthony Gallegos Latest IGN Videos News: Reported Screenshot of Prince of Persia Reboot Leaks #dsq-content #dsq-topbar{ display:none !important; } #dsq-content a.dsq-bar-reply{ display: none !important; } #dsq-content #dsq-new-post.dsq-unauthenticated{ display:none; } You must be logged in to post a comment.

var show_postbox = false; var link = document.getElementById("comment-socialLogin"); var redirect = link.getAttribute("href"); redirect += encodeURIComponent(window.location.href); link.setAttribute("href", redirect); blog comments powered by Disqus Become a fan of IGN Follow @IGN Game Details Awesomenauts Published by: DTP (Digital Entertainment Pool) Developed by: Ronimo Games Genre: Persistent Online Shooter Release Date: United States: August 1, 2012 UK: Q3 2012 MSRP: 10 USD T for Teen : Blood, Use of Tobacco, Violence Also Available On: PS3, Mac, Xbox 360 Popular Videos IGN.com:Editorial StaffReview GuideSend Us NewsSign Up for Email UpdatesSite Map International:AustraliaAsia PacificBeneluxCanadaGermanyIrelandMiddle EastSwedenUnited KingdomUnited States Sign up for the IGN Games Newsletter About UsAdvertiseContact UsPressCareers IGN Entertainment Games SitesIGNGameSpyGameSpy ArenaGameSpy TechnologyFilePlanetVE3DGame Sites1UpMyCheatsTeamXboxGameStatsGameTabGameVideosGamerMetricsGIGA.DE More IGN Entertainment SitesAskMenUGOActress ArchivesCelebrity WonderThe Rush

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Command Prompt 6: Tribes, Awesomenauts, More

In an attempt to make sense of the chaotic mass we call PC gaming, IGN's Anthony Gallegos and Charles Onyett put together a video show called Command Prompt. Barring any disastrous events or prolonged spells of acute laziness, new episodes will appear every week showing off three PC games.

For the sixth episode we're joined by Xbox Associate Editor Mitch Dyer as we take a look at Hi-Rez Studio's awesomely fast shooter Tribes: Ascend, learn what it's like to be beat down in a 2D MOBA in Awesomenauts and then explore the bizarre world of Thirty Flights of Loving.

Tribes: Ascend

Hi-Rez Studios manages to make a unique feeling first-person shooter with Tribes: Ascend's ridiculously fast and skill-demanding combat.

Awesomenauts

Who knew it was possible? Ronimo Games manages to take the MOBA or DoTA-style gameplay of League of Legends and Dota 2 and implement it in a 2D environment.

Thirty Flights of Loving

Blendo Games, creators of Gravity Bone and Atom Zombie Smasher follow up with a haunting and bizarre story that takes only minutes to play.

Charles Onyett is an Executive Editor at IGN, leads PC game coverage and used to think Pugna was his favorite Dota 2 hero, but recently decided it was Disruptor. You can follow him on Twitter and My IGN.

Anthony Gallegos is an Editor on IGN's PC team. He enjoys scaring the crap out of himself with horror games and then releasing some steam in shooters like Blacklight and Tribes. You can follow him on Twitter and on IGN.