Terrorist groups in Pakistan abandon WhatsApp, Facebook, shift to new messaging apps over privacy concern

As WhatsApp’s new update policy raised questions over privacy, terrorist
groups and their handlers from Pakistan have switched to other messaging
platforms that promise more security, officials said, PTI reported.

The three new applications owned by the United States, Europe and
Turkey, came to light after those who surrendered before the Army gave details
about their mode of radicalisation by Pakistan-based terrorist groups, they
said.

The names of the messaging apps have been withheld for security reasons.

These alternate applications are frequently used by terrorist group
handlers and their prospective recruits in the Kashmir Valley.

The new applications can work with the slowest internet connections
where Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE), used in the late 2000s, or 2G
is in operation.

Terror groups had not made any presence virtually as they stopped using
WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Later, their transition to other applications,
available free of cost on the world wide web, was disclosed, a security
official said.

All encryption and decryption happens directly on the devices, thereby,
reducing third party intervention at any point and these apps use encryption
algorithm RSA-2048 which was adopted as the most secure encrypted platform.

One of the new messaging apps used by terrorists to radicalise the youth
in the Valley does not even ask for phone numbers or emails for enabling
complete user anonymity, the officials said.

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Efforts are on to block such applications in Jammu and Kashmir, they
said.

This came at a time when the security agencies in the Valley are
fighting the menace of virtual SIM cards. Terror groups have been increasingly
using these to connect with their handlers in Pakistan.