The face of national security has changed since September 11, 2001. With Web 2.0 applications growing, the US Army is monitoring and analyzing the possibility that Twitter can be used by terrorists. This popular and growing micro-blogging tool is now being used by millions. Its popularity has grown to a point that state and local governments are looking at and using the "Tweets" to notify citizens quicker than news outlets or the media.
What exactly is Twitter? Twitter is a micro blogging tool that allows users and readers alike to respond instantly to communicate across the globe. Twitter allows for 'Tweets' to be sent in text messages up to 140 characters. The Twitter API is written so that it can integrate into web and mobile applications. The reliability of tweeter has proven popular to the general public and would definitely have an appeal to groups such as terrorists who would need to communicate. With more than a 98% up time, Twitter is ideal for the communication needs of groups and followers.
With Twitter, different groups can use this tool to communicate quickly and globally. With extremist groups using Twitter to communicate, there is no reason that terrorists could not use this form of communication in conjunction with other web tools. Reports wonder if the tool is available in other parts of the world (in other countries). As a Certified Ethical Hacker, my opinion is yes. Tools are limited by their availability and understanding of the code used to make them. The Twitter API which was mentioned in the aforesaid paragraph can be rewritten. It is well known that during the Russian and Georgian conflict that Russia used servers in other countries to attack Georgia.
Given the fact that Twitter was not used in the attack and working on how ‘open’ and unsecure the world wide web can be, tools that emulate Twitter can easily be used by countries wanting to do harm or to communicate rapidly to whomever they need to. Tools such as Microsoft's Live Maps or Google maps could be used with Twitter or other software to coordinate efforts in planning for and executing an attack.
This form of cyberterrorism is the driving force that causes companies and users to look at privacy issues. With extreme uses that could be harmful to others, Twitter along with other software companies have to beginning looking at how much data is gathered from their users. This creates, or could create, a precarious situation where privacy is protected, yet user information is known.
With technology growing on the web, other programs are being born or cropping up every day. Twitter look-a-likes are popping up across the web giving users alternatives that work like Twitter. The focus shouldn't be on just Twitter. These forms of communications could be used by terrorist to communicate. With an understanding of how the internet works, you have to be open minded enough to realize that, yes, these tools could easily be used.