Pakistan-Based Terror Groups, ISI Use P*rn Sites, Encrypted Apps to Recruit in J&K
Terror outfits and handlers from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are increasingly utilizing real-time chat features on p*rnography platforms and specialised Tor-based applications to communicate with recruits in Jammu and Kashmir.
Security agencies have uncovered a new communication tactic allegedly being used by Pakistan-based terror groups and handlers linked to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to contact and recruit people in Jammu and Kashmir. According to officials, the networks are exploiting chat functions on p*rnography websites, niche encrypted applications and Tor-based messaging platforms to evade conventional surveillance, Hindustan Times reported.
The development comes after security agencies detected the misuse of online gaming platforms by terror networks. Officials said the latest shift indicates that handlers are increasingly moving away from mainstream messaging services in favour of less conspicuous digital channels. Delhi Police Bust Pakistan-Linked Espionage Network, Arrest Couple Over SIM Card Smuggling.
Porn Sites Used for Covert Communication
Officials said some pornography websites and apps offer real-time chat facilities, ostensibly designed to connect users with people nearby. Terror handlers are allegedly exploiting these features to communicate with potential recruits and coordinate activities.
Several such platforms are banned in India but can reportedly be accessed through virtual private networks (VPNs), according to officials. Security agencies are particularly concerned because communication through less commonly monitored platforms can make it harder to identify suspicious activity at an early stage. Pakistan ISI Honeytrap: Jammu Youth Arrested on Spying Charges After Falling Prey to Online Trap.
Tor-Based Apps Under Scrutiny
Investigators are also examining Tor-based messaging applications, including Coatex and Conion, which route communications through encrypted nodes and are designed to make users' identities and locations more difficult to establish.
Officials said security agencies are monitoring a range of privacy-focused applications, including platforms that provide end-to-end encrypted messaging without requiring a SIM card or conventional phone number. Vietnam-based applications and anonymous platforms such as Moonchat are also reportedly under scrutiny.
The Tor network itself is a legitimate privacy and anti-censorship technology maintained by the US-based non-profit The Tor Project. Officials' concerns relate to the alleged exploitation of its anonymity features by clandestine networks.
Shift Away From Mainstream Platforms
According to security officials, terror networks are increasingly avoiding widely used platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Signal, where monitoring mechanisms are more established.
Instead, handlers are reportedly looking for services offering features such as end-to-end encryption, anonymous registration and communication without a phone number or email address. Some applications can also function on slower mobile networks, officials said.
The emerging pattern is presenting investigators with a constantly changing digital environment in which communication channels can be replaced or shifted quickly.
Security Agencies Adapt Surveillance
Officials said agencies are updating their cyber-surveillance systems to identify and intercept these so-called "off-grid" communication channels. The development is also being examined alongside the earlier use of virtual SIM cards by terror networks. Investigators had identified the use of such numbers during the probe into the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, according to officials.
Security agencies are now focusing on mapping emerging digital platforms and identifying how Pakistan-based handlers allegedly use them to communicate with and radicalise potential recruits in Jammu and Kashmir.
The latest findings underline the evolving nature of terror networks' online communication strategies, while investigations into specific cases and platforms remain ongoing.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 30, 2026 09:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
