GhostSec and Anonymous increase campaign against ISIS
GhostSec is an offshoot of the hacktivist group Anonymous, and was formed in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris earlier this year. It is focused on finding and tracking ISIS social media sites and reporting them to the relevant authorities. Part of this hacktivist group has now formed Ghost Security Group, which is focused on the same aims, but with a more mainstream image. In reaction to this weekend's attacks in Paris Anonymous has released a statement telling ISIS that "We will launch the biggest operation ever against you." GhostSec has said that it has found ISIS to be using Bitcoin accounts for some of its funding, and also says that it had encountered a number of indicators pointing to an attack to be launched in Paris.

Yesterday, we were all heartbroken by the news of the terrorist attack on France. At least 87 were killed at the Bataclan concert hall; 18 at Boulevard de Charonne; 14 at Rue Alibert and five at Rue de la Fontaine au Roi.

Ghost Security Group is an anti-terrorism group of ethical hackers who are standing in the front lines of the digital war against ISIL. Ghost Security Group started analyzing an enormous amount of data, in an attempt to track the attackers of France attacks.

Luckily, I managed to interview one of the guys at Ghost Security Group and asked him a few questions about ISIL, Bitcoin and yesterday’s attacks.

(Note: we won’t reveal his name to protect his identity against any possible retaliatory reactions by ISIL).

In view of yesterday’s terrorist attacks on France, did Ghost Security Group notice any abnormal activity from ISIL’s personnel that you are tracking? Were there any alarming signals?

Yes, we did detect several indicators of an attack impending and are currently in the process of collecting valuable evidence for United States government officials. I cannot go into more detail at the moment on current investigations.

A lot of people, and I am one of them, think that ISIL are extensively using Bitcoin for funding their operations. Did you ever manage to track bitcoin addresses related to ISIL? If they are mainly in Syria and Iraq, how do they cash their bitcoins?

The Islamic State does use cryptocurrencies as a form of income to fund their ongoing operations and we have managed to uncover several Bitcoin addresses used by them. One of the accounts we analyzed was found to contain 3 million U.S. dollars worth of Bitcoins. More on that incident can be found here at http://www.dw.com/en/bitcoin-islamic-states-online-currency-venture/a-18724856

Did you ever manage to hack and shut down websites that raise bitcoins for ISIL?

Most of the Bitcoin funding sites utilized by the Islamic State are on the deep web and we have managed to uncover several and successfully shut them down in order to limit the funding extremists receive through the use of cryptocurrencies.

4- Is there any evidence that ISIL are using cryptocurrencies other than BTC to raise money? Do they have bitcoin farms for mining?

Most of the evidence we have seen thus far indicates that BtC is their prime form of cryptocurrency. It is currently unknown if they have the capability to mine Bitcoin but they do receive donations on a regular basis.

5- How can Ghost Security Group help France track the criminals who plotted and executed this massacre?

Anyone can assist us by reporting any tips they may receive to http://reportonlineterrorism.com We are also a nonprofit organization whom are self funded by our staff. Individuals interested in assisting us financially are welcomed, so we can purchase much needed additional computer equipment to combat the Islamic State with can donate via Bitcoin at the following address.

Ghost Security Group Bitcoin Address:

1MfUH1ThpU1dMjBAc5jcewLToE2efQxu7K

6- If someone would want to volunteer to help you guys, how can he/she do that?

Reporting any suspicious activity to http://reportonlineterrorism.com assists us greatly through crowdsourcing data in order to detect new threats.

References:

1- The Guardian. Paris attacks: day after atrocity – as it happened. 14th of November, 2015.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/nov/14/paris-terror-attacks-attackers-dead-mass-killing-live-updates#block-564720a6e4b0ced428cb28a2

2- DW. Bitcoin: Islamic State Online Currency Venture

http://www.dw.com/en/bitcoin-islamic-states-online-currency-venture/a-18724856