= Selected screenshots
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/starwarsweb.net.jpg]
{title=2010 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20101230033220/http://starwarsweb.net/[starwarsweb.net]}
{description=
The <Star Wars> one. Clearly branded websites like this are rare, which makes finding them all the much more fun. The <Reuters article> had two of them (<Searching for Carson>[Carson] and rastadirect.net), so these were probably manually selected from the full hit dataset, and did not serve specifically as entry points. Most of the websites are quite boring and forgetful as you'd expect.
The subtitle "Beyond The Unknown" may be a reference to the https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Unknown_Regions[Unknown Regions], an unexplored area of the galaxy in the Star Wars fictional universe.
\Image[https://web.archive.org/web/20250312060328if_/https://media.gettyimages.com/id/172984439/photo/little-jedi.jpg?s=2048x2048&w=gi&k=20&c=vKTUlTKpYtPcL8wQobbZMQEhU1CZefV7VlXxDExqZn8=]
{title=Stock photo of a Jedi boy from Getty Images used on starwarsweb.net}
{description=
The photo can still be licensed today as of 2025: https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/photo/little-jedi-royalty-free-image/172984439[]. We found it by https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/search/2/image?phrase=jedi%20boy&sort=best&license=rf%2Crm[searching for "jedi boy" on gettyimages.co.uk]. The photo is credited to a `madisonwi`, presumably an alias based on the location <#Madison, Wisconsin>. Here's a random website about adoption that uses it: https://www.adoptionadvocates.net/star-wars-adoption-language/ and where it can be seen without the watermarks.
The droids can be seen e.g. at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/04-Kampf-Droiden-Superheftig-Jedi/dp/B004TINSW6[], a promotional material for a 2008 The Clone Wars television series audio CD and available as transparent PNGs without background in several sources. The Yoda art also seems to come from that show: https://rpggamer.org/page.php?page=4229[]. The contractor's children were likely watching it when they had the idea.
}
{source=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/photo/little-jedi-royalty-free-image/172984439}
}
{height=1400}
\Image[https://github.com/cirosantilli/media/blob/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/webofcheer.com-scroll.jpg?raw=true]
{title=2011 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20110207150839/http://webofcheer.com/[webofcheer.com] scrolled to show Johnny Carson}
{description=This website is a fansite for various comedians. It is the second known reference to Johnny Carson after <Searching for Carson>[alljohnny.com], which was one of the original screenshots given in the <Reuters article>. There must have been some massive Johnny Carson fan among the CIA contractors a that time!}
{height=717}
{source=https://web.archive.org/web/20040113025122/http://alljohnny.com/}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/iranfootballsource.com.jpg]
{title=2011 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20110202091611/http://iranfootballsource.com/[iranfootballsource.com]}
{description=
The third Iranian football on top of the two other <The Reuters websites>[published by Reuters]: iraniangoalkicks.com and iraniangoals.com! Admittedly, this one is the most generic and less well designed one. But still. They pushed the theme too far!
The goalkeeper can be seen at: https://www.pixtastock.com/illustration/7323632[].
}
{height=1400}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/www.dedrickonline.com.jpg]
{title=2010 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20101211095158/http://www.dedrickonline.com/[dedrickonline.com]}
{description=
The <German> one.
The CIA has had a few Germany espionage scandals in the 2010s:
* 2014 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28243933[]: a German Intelligence Agency agent was arrested for spying for the CIA
* 2021 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-security-agency-spied-merkel-other-top-european-officials-through-danish-2021-05-30/ U.S. spied on Merkel and other Europeans through Danish cables
* 2020 https://www.dw.com/en/how-the-uss-cia-and-germanys-bnd-spied-on-world-leaders/a-52358527 it was revealed that Germany and the USA had an agreement to spy on world leaders, notably via compromised Swiss company Crypto AG
}
{height=1600}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/lesummumdelafinance.com.jpg]
{title=2010 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20100514032916/http://lesummumdelafinance.com[lesummumdelafinance.com]}
{description=
A <French> one. Because it mentions VTT (Mountain Biking in French), it must focus France.
The arrow graph is very popular can be seen at: https://www.financialexpress.com/money/top-4-global-market-risks-for-2024-that-may-impact-your-finances-3346284/[] and many other sites. Source unknown.
}
{height=1400}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/attivitaestremi.com.jpg]
{title=2011 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20110128162039/http://attivitaestremi.com/[attivitaestremi.com]}
{description=An <Italian> one about extreme sports.}
{height=1400}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/noticiasmusica.net.jpg]
{title=2010 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20101230165001/http://noticiasmusica.net/[noticiasmusica.net]}
{description=
The <Brazilian> one.
In 2013 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Greenwald[Glen Greenwald] claimed that https://g1.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2013/07/vigilancia-dos-eua-ao-brasil-e-ponte-para-outros-paises-diz-jornalista.html[the espionage in Brazil was merely a bridge to other countries of interest such as China and Iran]
}
{height=1400}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/economicnewsbuzz.com.jpg]
{title=2011 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20110207210053/http://economicnewsbuzz.com/[economicnewsbuzz.com]}
{description=The Korean one. Love the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawaii[kawaii] style!}
{height=1400}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/snapnewsfront.net.jpg]
{title=2011 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20110107022935/http://snapnewsfront.net/[snapnewsfront.net]}
{description=
The <Japanese> one.
The geisha can be seen at: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/pretty-geisha-16813348[] by Larisa Frelke, assumed accounts: https://x.com/larra_vit | https://www.xing.com/profile/Larisa_Frelke
}
{height=1400}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/philippinenewsonline.net.jpg]
{title=2010 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20101230191405/http://philippinenewsonline.net/[philippinenewsonline.net]}
{description=The Philippine one one.}
{height=1400}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/feedsdemexicoyelmundo.com.jpg]
{title=2011 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20110202190838/http://feedsdemexicoyelmundo.com/[feedsdemexicoyelmundo.com]}
{description=The Mexican one.}
{height=800}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/www.easytraveleurope.com.jpg]
{title=2012 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20120218052121/http://www.easytraveleurope.com/[easytraveleurope.com]}
{height=800}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/tee-shot.net.jpg]
{title=2011 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20110107045521/http://tee-shot.net[tee-shot.net]}
{description=One of the many golf-themed sites. Golf appears to be quite popular over in Langley. It's exactly what you'd expect for a mid-level spook to do in their free time!}
{height=900}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/nouvellesetdesrapports.com.jpg]
{title=2011 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20110128173433/http://nouvellesetdesrapports.com/[nouvellesetdesrapports.com]}
{height=900}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/pangawana.com.jpg]
{title=2011 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20110203201604/http://pangawana.com/[pangawana.com]}
{height=800}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/recuerdosdeviajeonline.com.jpg]
{title=2011 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20110202124633/http://recuerdosdeviajeonline.com/[recuerdosdeviajeonline.com]}
{height=1000}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/theworld-news.net.jpg]
{title=2011 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20101226182928/http://theworld-news.net/[theworld-news.net]}
{height=800}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/www.kessingerssportsnews.com.jpg]
{title=2011 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20100520013854/http://www.kessingerssportsnews.com/[kessingerssportsnews.com]}
{height=800}
\Image[https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cirosantilli/media/master/cia-2010-covert-communication-websites/screenshots/negativeaperture.com.jpg]
{title=2011 <Wayback Machine> archive of https://web.archive.org/web/20110207202401/http://negativeaperture.com/[negativeaperture.com]}
{height=1300}
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