28 February 2025, Karachi - The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Pakistan with the support of the Government of Canada successfully organized a three-day (25-27 Feb 2025) training session on Countering the Use of Internet for Terrorist Purposes. The workshop gathered 26 officials, of which 3 were women, from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Counter Terrorism Departments (CTD) Balochistan and Sindh, to build their capacity to counter the online threat by extremist and terrorist groups.
The day began with an introduction of the workshop and pre-assessment of the participants. This served to establish a common understanding before proceeding with a detailed analysis of the online presence of terrorist groups within Pakistan. Experts offered perspectives on the Pakistan Terrorist Attack Cycle, digital applications preferred by extremist networks, and case studies like the August 2021 Instagram-based terror plot. Through hands-on training, participants acquired practical knowledge of encrypted applications, strengthening their understanding of the secure communication channels used by the terrorist groups. An important segment of the day involved a course on Google Dorking where participants were instructed in advanced Google searching techniques that enable one to discover sensitive internet information, capture essential security files, and explore vulnerabilities in systems.
The second day was focused on highlighting the importance of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) within counterterrorism initiatives. The speakers illustrated tools like the Harvester and Maltego for extracting and analyzing data from social media platforms, showcasing real-time views into extremist action. Web OSINT techniques were practiced by attendees through WebArchive.org and Netcraft, experiencing hands-on insight in tracking and archiving online terrorist content. The training session also addressed social engineering strategies, such as social media impersonation, identity theft, and insider threats. Participants learned how to identify and thwart social engineering attacks through hands-on exercises, enhancing their investigation skills further.
The last day focused on the use of cryptocurrencies in terrorist financing. Specialists discussed the basics of blockchain technology, digital currencies, and hashing, as well as investigative methods for tracking and freezing virtual currency using breadcrumb analytics tools. Participants visited the Dark Web in a highly participative session, where they learned safe protocols for accessing the Dark Web, investigation methods, and risk reduction strategies. Hands-on exercises with Tails OS gave firsthand experience in tracking illegal activities in the darknet world.
The three-day mentoring program emphasized the enhanced online insight of terror groups and the necessity for advance action. By equipping law enforcement and investigative professionals with advanced tools and methodologies, UNODC Pakistan continues to strengthen the national response against cyber-enabled terrorism. The event reaffirmed the commitment of UNODC to enhance Pakistan’s digital resilience and investigative capabilities in the fight against online extremism. Future initiatives will build upon these learnings, ensuring sustained capacity development in the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.
