The extent of a social networking site is far beyond our wildest imagination, and apparently, not even terrorist can resist it. A recent study by the 304th Military Intelligence Battalion, posted by the Federation of American Scientists on its website, reveals that the social networking and micro-blogging service Twitter attracts a large range of users, from socialists, to atheists, political enthusiasts, vegetarians, and even terrorists.

According to the study, Twitter is used by some members to post extremist ideologies and perspectives, including pro and anti Hezbollah ideas. “In addition, extremist and terrorist use of Twitter could evolve over time to reflect tactics that are already evolving in use by hacktivists and activists for surveillance.”

The advantage of Twitter is that it allows members to keep in touch by using the web, their phone or instant messaging in near real time. What this means, theoretically, is that terrorists could use a cell phone camera/video function to send back messages and to receive messages from their cells.

With the help of the Mashup function, terrorists could also use Google Maps to indicate location where they are being held, keeping a real time communication line with members on the outside, favoring them to conduct an ambush.

In a second scenario, a terrorist could use a mobile phone for Twitter messaging or for taking images. If that terrorist also had an explosive device on him, and a partner with a detonator and a mobile phone to receive his messages and images, Twitter would facilitate their communication in real time.

In another scenario, a terrorist could use Twitter to solicit information from a “US Army Smith”, which he would then use for a targeting package (identity theft, hacking).