The CIA Once Ran A Star Wars Fan Site As Part Of A Global Intelligence Effort

Based on recent findings, it appears that a collection of websites managed by the CIA during the 2000s encompassed gaming portals and a Star Wars enthusiast site as part of their global communication strategy with potential informants. It seems this approach was not only clumsy but also potentially detrimental to the agency’s objectives, leading to the unmasking of several CIA sources.

A cybersecurity expert named Ciro Santilli has recently shared a comprehensive account of his investigation into a particular network, shedding light on the intricate methods used in its operation. Essentially, it seems that the CIA may have utilized websites such as starwarsweb.net (you can view an archive from 2010 via the Wayback Machine) as disguises for tools aimed at facilitating clandestine communication.

Due to some unintentional errors in technical operations by the CIA, researchers such as Santilli have been able to study and classify this network of sites. For example, according to reports from 404 Media, many of these websites shared sequential IP addresses, making it simple to find related sites through standard DNS lookup tools. Beyond starwarsweb.net, the CIA also developed several gaming-oriented websites, including havenofgamerz.com, activegaminginfo.com, and myonlinegamingsource.com (all links accessible via Wayback Machine archives).

2022 Reuters report exposed that the CIA’s online network was at the heart of a catastrophic intelligence blunder, leading to several informants and sources being exposed. The Reuters article primarily discussed how Iran’s government managed to pinpoint informants by discovering covert CIA communication channels on websites focusing on Iran. This information, such as names and images of the websites, served as clues for Santilli to delve deeper into the extensive network.

The global intelligence operation was far-reaching, involving numerous nations, and the subsequent analysis has proven to be equally intricate. For those eager to delve deeper into this investigation, I strongly advise reading 404’s piece, as it offers additional insights directly from Santilli.

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2025-06-04 00:09