SMRTR TechMay 26, 2025TechSpot

The CIA used a Star Wars fan site to secretly communicate with spies

SMRTR summary

The CIA covertly ran a Star Wars fan site, StarWarsWeb.net, as a communication platform for foreign spies. It featured a concealed login system in the search bar. Researcher Ciro Santilli uncovered this and other similar sites, including comedy and sports pages for different countries. Flawed coding made these sites traceable, resulting in the exposure and execution of CIA sources in Iran and China circa 2011-2012. This event underscores the dangers of digital espionage and the permanence of online data.

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