Government Fears Terrorists Plotting Attacks in World of Warcraft

[Gray]

A researcher at the Pentagon recently gave a presentation at the Director of National Intelligence Open Source Conference explaining how terrorists could potentially plot attacks by meeting in a virtual world.

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/09/16/terrorism1.jpg

In it, two World of Warcraft players discuss a raid on the "White Keep" inside the "Stonetalon Mountains." The major objective is to set off a "Dragon Fire spell" inside, and make off with "110 Gold and 234 Silver" in treasure. "No one will dance there for a hundred years after this spell is cast," one player, "war_monger," crows.


Except, in this case, the White Keep is at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. "Dragon Fire" is an unconventional weapon. And "110 Gold and 234 Silver" tells the plotters how to align the game's map with one of Washington, D.C.

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/09/16/terrorism2.jpg

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/09/16/terrorism3.jpg

[ZSYigadar]

I think terrorists would get too distracted by the lack of Player Vs. Player balance in World of Warcraft to plot anything.

[Old Ape Face]

First of all Fighting a raid instance of NPCs is not the same as fighting real people, and even then if you're fighting real people you're mixing NPCs too. I can't see how you can learn anything from Wow in combat training.

[Leader Desslock]

I don't think the idea is that people are doing online combat training. I think the concern is that terrorists might be coordinating their activities via WOW communications.

I think this is less likely than, say, the thousands of other types of data transmission that occur at a given moment on the internet, but ... hey, that's me. Why communicate via WOW, when you can transfer detailed plans by embedding them, encrypted, in the data of a publicly posted image?

[Old Ape Face]

"If you want to hide a tree plant in a forest" sort of like that?

[kenshinbebop]

Is this for real.

If so...hypothetically speaking, would a Washington DC based atomic bomb reach New York and radiate me to death?

[The Million Dollar Prons]

If so...hypothetically speaking, would a Washington DC based atomic bomb reach New York and radiate me to death?

Technically yes becuase Washington DC has a forcefield which bounces terrorist attacks off it in the direction of Maine, as an attempt to defeat the Desslock Liberation Front

[DavenIII]

Is this for real.

If so...hypothetically speaking, would a Washington DC based atomic bomb reach New York and radiate me to death?

http://www.foody.org/atomic/atomic01.html

[earsofdoom]

Tax dollars at work peaple, probably the dumbest thing i've read all week becouse like desslock says there are just far better ways of communication available.

[Tom Servo]

There's an anime sale at the video shop on Wittleviles street at noon this coming Saturday. For those who are interested be sure to bring your special money off vouchers.

Is this for real.
No.

[Gray]

Is this for real.

No.


Actually it's quite real. http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/09/world-of-warcra.html
http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/09/16/pentagon-presents-hypothetical-terrorist-plot-in-wow/

[Old Ape Face]

Shhh quiet, you might give Terrorists Ideas...

[Samurai Drifter]

Ha ha ha ha... oh government, you and your fear mongering.

[GreatNekoKoneko]

... lol.

they can't raid. they're not spec-ed for raiding. i bet they don't even have a healer. plus, it's not your average 25-man raid - you're gonna need some T6 for this lot.

and chances are, some n00bs are gonna ninja some of the drops that they can't use anyway.

[Chidori Raikiri]

So... The terrorists will be rogues, or what?

[Old Ape Face]

... lol.

they can't raid. they're not spec-ed for raiding. i bet they don't even have a healer. plus, it's not your average 25-man raid - you're gonna need some T6 for this lot.

and chances are, some n00bs are gonna ninja some of the drops that they can't use anyway.

lol Wait till the next expansion, our tanks will be so overpowered there wont be a need to heal.

[GreatNekoKoneko]

... well, the PEW PEW will be a bit overpowered too.

[Caster13]

McCarthy-ism for the 21st century, people.

[Funkmaster9000]

Hahaha Wow This is just another way for the Man to relate terror and violence towards video games! They are so so so terrible and society will crumble if we keep playing them! *throws computer out the window* Now we can be safe from terror!

[Old Ape Face]

Hahaha Wow This is just another way for the Man to relate terror and violence towards video games! They are so so so terrible and society will crumble if we keep playing them! *throws computer out the window* No we can be safe from terror!

Let's go back to playing D&D and have a real man's battle.

[Caster13]

No we can be safe from terror!

No way we can be safe from Communists!

Get my point?

[Funkmaster9000]

Yeah no kidding... Next thing you know, a presidential candidate will be a terrorist!

*rolls eyes*

[Haro!]

Dude terrorists on world of war craft? What like N. Korean or something?

[Funkmaster9000]

Dude terrorists on world of war craft? What like N. Korean or something?

No I think more like Iraqis and the Al Qaeda and such. You know, The people besides Bush that blew up the towers ;)

[Haro!]

No I think more like Iraqis and the Al Qaeda and such. You know, The people besides Bush that blew up the towers ;)
But its a known fact that Koreans school everyone on the WoW. It only makes sense.

[Funkmaster9000]

But its a known fact that Koreans school everyone on the WoW. It only makes sense.

Everyone besides William Shatner!! =D But I see where you're coming from... and I personally believe that the Al Qaeda and such are in a bad position to be playing WOW. But it's not like North Korea needs to be using secret methods of communication.

[Leader Desslock]

But what I want to know is what the Department of Habbo Security is doing to secure the borders of the Hotel from infiltration by the noted cyberterrorist organization Al Nigra. Rumor has it that Al Nigra has obtained some sort of bioweapon (code name A.I.D.S.) that they intend to disperse via the hotel's pool filtration system.

[Jia]

What...the.....

So much for gamer privacy.

[Funkmaster9000]

*Blank stare*

Ahem!

But yeah I agree! But the argument is "if it saves us from terror, a minor invasion of privacy and a steady monitoring is a small price to pay!" But the problem comes down to where to draw the line! Upon Generations of debate no one has come up with a universally accaptable answer. And in all actuality the Government will take away all the privacy it wants and feed us the line of "It's for your own good!"

[goddessofanime]

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH




THEY MIGHT HEAR YOU.


Seriously, if a terrorist is going to attack, they're not gonna plot it out on WOW.

[superplough]

But what I want to know is what the Department of Habbo Security is doing to secure the borders of the Hotel from infiltration by the noted cyberterrorist organization Al Nigra. Rumor has it that Al Nigra has obtained some sort of bioweapon (code name A.I.D.S.) that they intend to disperse via the hotel's pool filtration system.

Oh dear god did I lol.

POOLS CLOSED GUISE