Last but not least: Mexico's Zetas drug cartel sets its sights on chatrooms

Three users of the chat room "Nuevo Laredo en Vivo" have been found dead in recent days. A fourth alleged victim was discovered decapitated on Wednesday. As all visitors to the chatrooms post under pseudonyms, users of the chatroom were unable to confirm the identity of the bodies, as SDA wrote on Friday. However, despite such precautions, users are easily vulnerable. This is because the Zetas can track them down based on the traces they leave behind. This is no longer just a confrontation with the government, but a frontal attack on the public, says Jorge Chabat, an expert on security and drug trafficking at the Center for Economic Studies in Mexico City, according to SDA.

Traditional newspapers have often been attacked by Mexico's drug cartels. For example, by throwing explosive devices into their offices and threatening, kidnapping or killing reporters. This violence against journalists in the state of Tamaupilas, where Nuevo Laredo is located, has prompted the local media to self-censor. In this way, citizens are left alone on social networks with their desire to distinguish facts from rumors. Comments about the activities of the Zetas and other cartels in the city of Nuevo Laredo on the border with Texas are possible in the chat room. To get information, the residents have to resort to such chatrooms: Where gunshots can be heard, where cars have been seen with supposed observers from the drug cartels and which streets are safe to drive on.

Now the cartels have obviously learned that such websites have a much higher readership than the small local media. According to SDA, Erick Fernandez, professor of communication at the Ibero-American University in Mexico City, is observing a new behavior of the criminal forces in the country. It looks as if organized crime wants to prevent normal citizens from spreading reports of violence in real time, Romero said. "The intimidation has a multiplier effect". But some of the internet users refused to back down despite the beheadings and warnings from the Zetas. "Anon5182" wrote in the chat room: "I'm willing to sacrifice my life if the soldiers are guarding my information... and if the risk is good for something"

Unfortunately, despite increased security awareness and warnings not to disclose personal information, Internet users remain highly vulnerable. This is according to Matt Harrigan, head of a security company based in San Diego, according to SDA. This is because the information path via cookies, server addresses, login and account information is easy to make visible. It is therefore easy for the Zetas, with all their money from the drug trade, to follow the trail of chat participants.