terror

More details are surfacing about why Blogetery.com, a blogging platform that claimed to service more than 70,000 blogs, was mysteriously booted from the Internet by its Web-hosting company.

The site was shut down after FBI agents informed executives of Burst.net, Blogetery's Web host, late on July 9 that links to al-Qaeda materials were found on Blogetery's servers, Joe Marr, chief technology officer for Burst.net, told CNET. Sources close to the investigation say that included in those materials were the names of American citizens targeted for assassination by al-Qaeda. Messages from Osama bin Laden and … Read more

Courts do seem to find it difficult to see the funny side of things. Especially in the United Kingdom, where the lawyers who plead their cases appear to wear very unflattering wigs.

So perhaps some might feel a little sympathy for Paul Chambers, who Monday was found guilty of tweeting "a message by means of a public electronic message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character contrary to the Communications Act 2003."

Some of you may not recall the contents and context of Chambers' tweet. He had met a woman on Twitter. He … Read more

Spain has built a giant robot baby and unleashed it on millions of unsuspecting visitors to the 2010 Expo in Shanghai, China. So far the baby's been peaceful, but organizers are hoping it doesn't have a tantrum.

Named Miguelin, the 21-foot tot is an electronically controlled terror that can move its eyes and head, blink, and breathe. It was designed by Spanish film director Isabel Coixet, whose films include "Map of the Sounds of Tokyo." Her child seems to be a nod to Japanese artist Kenji Yanobe's Giant Torayan baby robot, except that it doesn'… Read more

The Indian military plans to weaponize the bhut jolokia, the world's hottest chili pepper, by using it in tear-gas grenades against terrorists, defense officials there have announced.

The notorious pepper from Bangladesh and northeast India, also known as the "ghost chili," is ranked by Guinness World Records as the most piquant of peppers. It has more than 1 million Scoville heat units, way beyond tabasco and jalapeno peppers, which pack 2,500 to 8,000 units.

"This is definitely going to be an effective non-toxic weapon because its pungent smell can choke terrorists and force them … Read more

An online game that lets you bomb victims of the Haiti earthquake. A Facebook group that compares gays to rats and vermin. An eBay auction selling rings supposedly taken from concentration camp prisoners during the Holocaust.

These are just a few of the Web sites and pages uncovered in the latest study of hate and terrorism on the Internet by the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

The report "Digital Terrorism and Hate 2010," released last week, highlights a growing number of Web sites and social networks used by people propagating hateful, racist, or terrorist ideas and activities. In combing through … Read more

Last month, Paul Chambers revealed a little of his frustration on the modern public-access broadcasting network known as Twitter. On Friday, he will be appearing in court to answer for that frustration.

Chambers is the chap who, in January, was choked with concern that he would not be able to vacation in Ireland because his local airport, Robin Hood in Doncaster, United Kingdom, was snowbound.

Naturally, he tweeted. Perhaps slightly less naturally, he tweeted what appeared to be a bomb threat: "Robin Hood airport is closed. You've got a week and a bit to get your s*** together, … Read more

I have an announcement to make. You know this Twitter thing? Well, it's public. Lots of people can see it. That might just include policemen.

I am forced to make this announcement because of the plight of Paul Chambers.

Chambers, according to the Independent, had decided to go on vacation to Ireland. He was, however, disturbed that his local airport, in Doncaster, U.K., was closed due to the snow that has stunned the old country into its much-admired traditional winter paralysis.

Being a Twittering fiend, he tweeted to his followers: "Robin Hood airport is closed. You've … Read more

A 32-year-old nuclear physicist, part of the Large Hadron Collider project on the Swiss-French border, has been arrested by French police on suspicion of involvement with al-Qaeda.

According to The Independent, the arrest was made after anti-terrorist police had followed his movements for more than a year. Le Figaro newspaper suggested that the man's name had originally come to light in connection with the "Afghan network" of terrorist groups based in Europe.

Of Algerian origin, he was arrested together with his brother, who was not working on the Collider.

Sources told The Independent that the scientist was … Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--No one is immune from cyberthreats, not even the head of the FBI.

FBI Director Robert Mueller was banned by his wife from doing online banking after he nearly fell for a phishing scam, he said on Wednesday during a talk at the Commonwealth Club of California.

He received an e-mail purporting to be from his bank that looked "perfectly legitimate" and which prompted him to verify some information. He started to follow the instructions but then realized that that "might not be such a good idea," he said.

"Just a few clicks away … Read more