“Hidden in the X-rated pictures on several pornographic Web sites and the posted comments on sports chat rooms may lie the encrypted blueprints of the next terrorist attack against the United States or its allies. It sounds farfetched, but U.S. officials and experts say it’s the latest method of communication being used by Osama bin Laden and his associates to outfox law enforcement. Bin Laden…and others are hiding maps and photographs of terrorist targets and posting instructions for terrorist activities on sports chat rooms, pornographic bulletin boards and other Web sites, U.S. and foreign officials say. ‘Uncrackable encryption is allowing terrorists–Hamas, Hezbollah, al-Qaida and others–to communicate about their criminal intentions without fear of outside intrusion,’ FBI Director Louis Freeh said last March [2000] during closed-door testimony on terrorism before a Senate panel. ‘They’re thwarting the efforts of law enforcement to detect, prevent and investigate illegal activities.’ “ [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Jack Kelley, “Terrorist Instructions Hidden Online,” USA Today, Feb. 5, 2001