Covert Facebook contacts seek Swedish military secrets
Swedish soldiers deployed in Afghanistan have been contacted via Facebook in an attempt to glean secret military information, according to Dagens Nyheter newspaper.
It is unclear if one or more individuals - or an organization - are behind the incident.
Mårten Wallén, head of the information security unit at the Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Agency (MUST), confirmed the incident, although he did not want to reveal the number of soldiers who had been involved. The contact has occurred gradually, he said.
No one claimed to be an old friend, but rather used statements such as "how fun that you are on Facebook" or "I have also been in Afghanistan" prior to asking more detailed questions.
“During the first Facebook encounter, nothing was mentioned at all about their overseas deployment. Then it led to questions that were directly linked to the service and the mission,” he told DN.
The Swedish Armed Forces remain unsure about who might be responsible. According to Wallén, no soldiers have released any secret information.
“We have said that online communication is of course natural, but they should think twice before they upload pictures and give out information,” he said.
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It is unclear if one or more individuals - or an organization - are behind the incident.
Mårten Wallén, head of the information security unit at the Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Agency (MUST), confirmed the incident, although he did not want to reveal the number of soldiers who had been involved. The contact has occurred gradually, he said.
No one claimed to be an old friend, but rather used statements such as "how fun that you are on Facebook" or "I have also been in Afghanistan" prior to asking more detailed questions.
“During the first Facebook encounter, nothing was mentioned at all about their overseas deployment. Then it led to questions that were directly linked to the service and the mission,” he told DN.
The Swedish Armed Forces remain unsure about who might be responsible. According to Wallén, no soldiers have released any secret information.
“We have said that online communication is of course natural, but they should think twice before they upload pictures and give out information,” he said.
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