WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The FBI is investigating a computer attack allegedly carried out by the Daesh terrorist group (banned in Russia) on Monday that penetrated 800 school websites throughout the United States and redirected users to online Islamist propaganda, according to a report by the Clarion Project.
"The hack lasted close to two hours, during which time visitors to the sites were redirected to a YouTube video with Arabic audio and pictures of Saddam Hussein," the report reads, adding "Text also appeared which read, 'I love Islamic State [Daesh].'"
The report has explained that the compromised websites that have been shut down to aid the FBI investigation of the cyberattack are all hosted by a company called School Desk (schooldesk.net) and are all connected to a server in Georgia.
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"School Desk has given a copy of the server to the FBI. Some schools have also hired outside security firms to help track down the hackers," the report says.
Counterterrorism analysts have warned that Daesh is likely to accelerate its use of online networks to create a so-called virtual caliphate after losing nearly all territory seized in Iraq and Syria.
In a study by the Swedish Defense Research Agency published in June, researchers have revealed that Daesh is using the subculture known as 'Jihadi Cool' for its brainwashing activities, as an attempt to re-brand its own music, fashion and expression. The report, titled "The Digital Caliphate" has explained that the terror group's subculture generates content almost indistinguishable from an ordinary social media account, rife with pink-hued images, cute pics of kittens and comic characters with odd intrusion of knives, blood and Jihadi slogans.
