World of Warcraft can be used to harbour terrorism … maybe

A researcher for the Pentagon has issued a hypothetical situation where World of Warcraft could be used to hatch terror plots.

Dr. Dwight Toavs has outlined a possible scenario where popular role-playing-game World of Warcraft could be used to launch a terrorist attack.

Toavs gave a presentation at the Director of National Intelligence Open Source Conference in Washington where he showed how a terrorist plot could be masked by common jargon used in the virtual world.

Toavs’ scenario involves two World of Warcraft players discussing a raid on the “White Keep” inside the “Stonetalon Mountains.” The major objective is to set off a “Dragon Fire spell” inside, and make off with “110 Gold and 234 Silver” in treasure. “No one will dance there for a hundred years after this spell is cast,” one player, “war_monger,” crows.

Except, in this case, the White Keep is at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. “Dragon Fire” is an unconventional weapon. And “110 Gold and 234 Silver” tells the plotters how to align the game’s map with one of Washington, D.C.

The story was originally reported by Wired who also provided images from Toavs’ presentation that outline the potential threat.

Source: Wired