Cybersecurity
Tracking Islamic State Plots Impeded by Encryption, Clapper Says
- DNI chief calls group `most sophisticated' user of scrambling
- Officials must `thread the needle' on privacy versus security
James Clapper.
Photographer: Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Islamic State is "very security-conscious" and a prolific user of strong encryption technology, posing a major challenge as the U.S. works to uncover and disrupt plots by the terrorist group, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said.
Clapper said the group uses end-to-end encryption, which refers to messaging applications or other services that secure communications when they are sent and received with scrambled code that can be unlocked only with a special key.