A newly-released paper by cyber-security company FireEye has revealed that opponents of Assad’s regime in Syria have been systematically targeted over Skype in an attempt to gain military intelligence. Men fighting for the Free Syrian Army are being targeted by what appears to be a woman, who adds them on Skype, strikes up a conversation and shares a “personal photo”. However the photo is booby-trapped; when it is opened it installs malware that specifically steals any military, political and financial information from the victim’s computer.

While FireEye can’t confirm exactly who is behind the attacks, the fact that battle plans, supply needs and personal information has been stolen from soldiers, journalists and humanitarians opposed to Assad, clearly indicates who the pilfered information is being channelled to.

It’s not just Brooks Newmark…