Israel Security Chief Wary of Google Earth, iPhone Apps

Israel's domestic security chief warned that civilian Internet applications including Google Earth (GOOG) and iPhone apps, offer militant groups access to intelligence that rivals that available to government spies.

Yuval Diskin, director of Shin Bet, said cyber technologies are a rising international security threat, Reuters reported.

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"Intelligence once enjoyed only by countries and world powers can now be obtained through Internet systems like Google Earth, Internet cameras that are deployed all over the world and linked to the Web, or applications for IPhone devices that allow for quality intelligence to be received in real-time," Diskin said at a security conference in Tel Aviv.

Diskin said that the use of parcel bombs had featured in "mounting debates" online between Islamist groups discussing how to exploit international aviation.

Two parcel bobs were found on a U.S.-bound plane on Friday.