Smart phones fast becoming means for terrorists: NSA

Smart phones are fast becoming means for terrorists to recruit people and communicate with each other, National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon said today.

Addressing a seminar here, he said the same technology has been used for mobilisation and social protests by groups, including Aam Aadmi Party in India and protesters during the 'Arab Spring'. "We see terrorist groups using the same technology (mobiles or smart phones) for recruitment, for communication and even though with much less success, so far, as a weapon," Menon said.

He said the phone devices have also been used as an instrument to spread "lies and rumours" and even in India, people had to leave their homes in large numbers due to such activities, an apparent reference to exodus of people from North East India mainly from the South two years ago. 

The NSA said cyber security is one of the biggest challenges and India has "some expertise and talent which suits our style of functioning."