Malaysian cybersecurity worker warns shamans are surfing social media for black magic victims

Technology and ancient world practices such as black magic can work together. A Malaysian official warned people from posting their selfies on social media sites where shamans are now looking for their next victims.

Jazannul Azriq Aripin is no ordinary government employee who spends the day reading Facebook feeds. He is the communications officer of CyberSecurity Malaysia, a government agency. Aripin says that based on cases the agency has handled, shamans – or practitioners of black magic – downloaded photos of their victims from social media sites and used their voodoo and other creepy rituals on their victims, reports CNET.

It simply means that the doll, the pincushion and the black pot where they brew potions are no longer just the tools of the trade of the shamans, called bomohs in Malaysia. They likely also have tablets, smartphones and laptops where they access Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts to hunt for potential victims.

“Do not be surprised if the ‘bomoh’ themselves are getting smarter and they may have installed wireless broadband to launch their black magic,” Themalaymailonline quotes Aripin. He warns, “So, avoid uploading pictures of yourselves to avoid the threat of black magic.”

He also cautions against placing other personal details like phone numbers, residential addresses and posting indecent photos.

While the world has shrunk with the use of technology, parts of Asia, Africa and South American are still rooted in ancient forms of healing and retribution through practices such as black magic and witchcraft.

Actually, bomohs started as healing medicine men in Malaysia, but over the years, locals became suspicious of bomohs and accused them of practicing black magic. In neighbouring country Papua New Guinea, elderly women suspected of practicing sorcery are still burned at the stakes. In Tanzania, albinos are kidnapped and their body parts harvested out of the belief that these melanin-deprived people possess power which could be transferred to them by eating their flesh.

Malaysia bomohs apparently have melded technology with practices associated with backward societies and often found in faraway village. But now, they could be the man seated next to you on the subway surfing his tablet for future victims, or your pretty “witch” neighbour who just took your picture secretly using her iPhone.