Stuff They Don't Want You To Know The CIA Made a Bunch of Fake Websites, and Got People Killed
Nov 14, 2025
Explore the chaotic era of the pre-bot internet where anyone could create a site. Discover how the CIA crafted fake fan websites for covert communication, leading to a dangerous unraveling. The hosts delve into the operational blunders, including sequential IP addresses that exposed networks in places like Iran. When assets were compromised, the fallout was dire—arrests and even executions resulted. This cautionary tale reminds us how technological missteps can have grave human consequences, raising ethical questions about intelligence practices.
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Internet Became An Intelligence Goldmine
- Governments rapidly adopt new technologies and treat the internet as a new field for intelligence operations.
- Control of communication is central to intelligence work and shaped early online tradecraft.
Fake Fan Sites Used For Covert Contacts
- The CIA built intentionally mediocre fan sites to hide covert messaging for assets abroad.
- These sites looked like stale hobby pages so local monitors would ignore them.
Forensic Fingerprints Revealed A Network
- Forensics revealed a common fingerprint tying hundreds of hobby and news sites into a single network.
- Researchers used that fingerprint to map target geographies and CIA priorities.