The Threat of Digital Tradecraft in Terrorism

• 26 Nov 2025

For Prelims: National Investigation Agency, National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Digital Tradecraft in Terrorism 

For Mains: Challenges of Rising Digital Tradecraft for India’s Counter-terrorism Efforts, Challenges to Internal Security Through Communication Networks

Source: TH 

Why in News?  

The car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort has exposed the growing threat of digital tradecraft in terrorism. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigation shows terror modules are now using encrypted apps, anonymous servers, and spy-style digital methods to plan attacks. 

• This highlights the need for stronger cyber-forensics, and specialised capabilities to track encrypted and decentralised communication networks.

What is Digital Tradecraft in Terrorism? 

• About: Digital tradecraft in terrorism is the modern set of online techniques that terror groups use to hide their identities, communicate securely, radicalise recruits, move money, and plan attacks.  
  • It mirrors intelligence tradecraft but operates through encrypted, anonymous, and decentralised digital systems. 
• Key Elements of Digital Tradecraft: 
  • Encrypted Communication: Terror groups use end-to-end encrypted apps (e.g., Threema ( requires no phone number or email), Telegram, Signal) to plan attacks without interception. 
  • Anonymity Tools: Techniques such as Virtual Private Networks, Tor browser, burner devices, and proxy servers help mask locations and identities. 
  • Decentralised Platforms: Use of dark web forums, anonymous hosting services, temporary email IDs, and self-destructing messages. 
  • Digital Surveillance Evasion: Tactical methods like avoiding metadata trails, using offline communication (Bluetooth mesh, Wi-Fi dead drops), and anti-tracking tools. 
    • Terror operatives used a shared email account to communicate through unsent draft messages, avoiding any sent-mail trail. This classic dead-drop method leaves minimal digital footprints. 
  • Online Radicalisation & Recruitment: Use of social media, gaming platforms, encrypted channels, and AI-generated content to target and indoctrinate individuals. 
  • Financial Concealment: Cryptocurrencies, prepaid wallets, crowdfunding using fake charities, and hawala networks integrated with digital payments. 
  • Operational Planning; Use of open-source intelligence (OSINT), satellite maps, AI tools, and cyber reconnaissance to identify targets.

What are the Challenges of Rising Digital Tradecraft for India’s Counter-terrorism Efforts? 

• Outdated Legal Frameworks: Existing counter-terror laws are not aligned with decentralised, encrypted, and self-hosted platforms now used by terror modules. 
  • India lacks specific legal provisions to detect, investigate, and prosecute digital tradecraft methods like draft-only emails and ephemeral messaging. 
  • Despite being banned under Section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, Threema was accessed via VPNs, showing bans alone are insufficient. 
• Limited Advanced Cyber-Forensic Capabilities: Many agencies lack specialised tools for memory dumps, server forensics, and encrypted-network mapping, while private self-hosted encrypted servers further block lawful access even with warrants.  
  • VPNs, proxies, and anonymising tools mask user locations, causing digital footprints to fragment and slowing down attribution and forensic verification.  
  • A persistent shortage of trained cyber-intelligence personnel widens the capability gap against increasingly sophisticated terror cells. 
• Radicalisation in Professional & Academic Spaces: Involvement of doctors and educated recruits shows radicalisation is shifting to high-skill, low-suspect environments. Security institutions lack mechanisms to detect ideological shifts in professional circles. 
• Weak International Coordination: Key evidence often lies on foreign servers or encrypted platforms outside India’s jurisdiction, making direct access difficult.  
  • Limited cross-border data-sharing agreements further slow real-time intelligence flow, creating critical delays in tracking and disrupting transnational terror networks. 

What Measures Should India Take to Counter the Rising Threat of Digital Tradecraft in Terrorism? 

• Strengthen Advanced Cyber-Forensics Capabilities: Create specialised units within NIA, National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and State Anti-Terrorism Squads (ATS) focusing on memory forensics, encrypted-network mapping, and server analysis. 
  • Expand Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) mandate to include counter-terror cyber-forensics and rapid threat attribution. 
• Modernise Legal and Regulatory Frameworks: Update the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 to explicitly cover digital tradecraft methods such as draft-only emails, self-hosted encrypted servers, and anonymised IDs. 
  • Create a policy framework requiring private servers used for communication apps to maintain minimum compliance standards. Strengthen the role of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in monitoring anonymising services and VPN gateways used for terror activity. 
• Build Institutional Capacity and Talent Pipelines: Partner with IITs, IIITs, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO),  and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to create specialised courses in cryptography, digital forensics, malware analysis, and open source intelligence (OSINT).  
  • Expand staffing and adapt it for counter-terror intelligence. 
• Strengthen Tech Diplomacy: Sign Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) and data-sharing agreements with countries hosting encrypted platforms (e.g., Switzerland for Threema). 
  • Collaborate with INTERPOL, Europol, and UN Security Council for tracking cross-border digital footprints. 
• Counter Radicalisation in High-Skill Environments: Empower University Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to issue advisory frameworks for early detection of extremist behaviour. 
  • Strengthen community-based monitoring under the National Integration Council and district-level security committees. 

Conclusion 

India must move beyond traditional surveillance and build a multi-layered digital counter-terrorism system. Stronger laws, upgraded institutions, advanced cyber-forensics, and deeper international cooperation are essential to counter encrypted, decentralised, and rapidly evolving terror networks. 

Drishti Mains Question: 

Analyse how the rise of encrypted and decentralised communication platforms has changed the terrorism threat landscape in India. Suggest reforms to respond effectively.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Q. What is ‘digital tradecraft’ in terrorism?
Digital tradecraft refers to use of encrypted apps, private/self-hosted servers, VPNs and spy-style methods (e.g., draft-only emails) to plan, coordinate and conceal terrorist operations. 

Q. Which laws currently regulate encrypted platforms in India?
The Information Technology Act, 2000 (including rules under Section 69A) governs online content and blocking; UAPA addresses terrorist acts — both need updating to explicitly cover decentralised/encrypted tradecraft. 

Q. Why are private/self-hosted servers a challenge for investigators?
Private servers can be configured to hold no metadata and to operate outside standard provider logs, blocking lawful access and making forensic reconstruction difficult even with warrants.  

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)  

Prelims

Q. Hand-in-Hand 2007’ a joint anti-terrorism military training was held by the officers of the Indian Army and officers of Army of which one of the following countries? (2008)

(a) China   

(b) Japan   

(c) Russia   

(d) USA   

Ans: (a)

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Mains 

Q. What are India’s internal security challenges? Give out the role of Central Intelligence and Investigative Agencies tasked to counter such threats.(2023) 

Q. Analyse the multidimensional challenges posed by external state and non-state actors, to the internal security of India. Also discuss measures required to be taken to combat the threats.(2021)  

Q. The banning of ‘Jamaat-e – islaami’ in Jammu and Kashmir brought into focus the role of over-ground workers (OGWs) in assisting terrorist organizations. Examine the role played by OGWs in assisting terrorist organizations in insurgency affected areas. Discuss measures to neutralize the influence of OGWs. (2019)