Spies' Battleground Turns Virtual

SPIES' BATTLEGROUND TURNS VIRTUAL
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Robert O'Harrow Jr.]
U.S. intelligence officials are cautioning that popular Internet services that enable computer users to adopt cartoon-like personas in three-dimensional online spaces also are creating security vulnerabilities by opening novel ways for terrorists and criminals to move money, organize and conduct corporate espionage. Over the last few years, "virtual worlds" such as Second Life and other role-playing games have become home to millions of computer-generated personas known as avatars. By directing their avatars, people can take on alternate personalities, socialize, explore and earn and spend money across uncharted online landscapes.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/05/AR2008020503144.html
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