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takyon writes:

The BBC reports that one of a group of four men arrested in 2014 and accused of plotting terror attacks is said to have downloaded "Mujahedeen Secrets," an Al Qaeda-linked encryption software package for Microsoft Windows:

One of the four men accused of plotting "drive-by" shootings downloaded software to allow jihadists to exchange secret messages, a court has heard. Suhaib Majeed, 21, had "Mujahideen Secrets" on his laptop, the jury heard. Mr Majeed, along with Nathan Cuffy, 26, Nyall Hamlett, 25, and Tarik Hassane, 22, from west London, deny conspiracy to murder and preparing terrorist acts. It is alleged they were inspired by the Islamic State group and plotted to kill a police officer, soldier or civilian.

The Old Bailey[*] heard that Mr Majeed liaised via Skype, the internet-based communication software, with someone overseas who helped him download the software, which the prosecution said was designed for Islamist terrorists to exchange encrypted messages. The contact abroad told Mr Majeed to "stay sharp" but unknown to either of them he was already under surveillance by counter-terrorism officers, the court was told.

The prosecution says Mr Majeed and fellow defendant Mr Hassane were in frequent contact about how to cover their tracks using false names and addresses and a variety of SIM cards. The jury also saw evidence they had set up a code to share new phone numbers but Mr Majeed did not fully understand it, leading to a string of abusive messages from Mr Hassane.

They also used Google Street View to identify targets, so put that next on the list of things to be banned.

[*] The Old Bailey.

Original Submission