Social media and other . technology are making it increasingly difficult to combat . militants who are using such modern resources to share . information and conduct operations , the head of the U.S. Central . Intelligence Agency said on Friday . CIA director John Brennan , in a speech in New York , said . such communications only add to the difficulty of dealing with . diffuse threats and attacks across the world from groups like . Islamic State , known also as ISIL , and others . 'New technologies can help groups like ISIL coordinate . operations , attract new recruits , disseminate propaganda , and . inspire sympathizers across the globe to act in their name , ' Brennan said , using an acronym for the militant group that has . taken hold in Syria and Iraq . Scroll down for video . Worrying trend : CIA director John Brennan ( pictured ) , in a speech in New York , said social media and other technology are making it increasingly difficult to combat militants . 'The overall threat of terrorism is greatly amplified by . today 's interconnected world , where an incident in one corner of . the globe can instantly spark a reaction thousands of miles . away ; and where a lone extremist can go online and learn how to . carry out an attack without ever leaving home , ' Brennan said . Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations , Brennan cited . a recent spate of attacks , including shootings at the French . satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo , at a cafe in Copenhagen , . Denmark and a Pakistani school . 'These attacks underscore a disturbing trend that we havebeen monitoring for some time : The emergence of a terroristthreat that is increasingly decentralized , difficult to track , and difficult to thwart . ' Flocking to fight : More than 210,000 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising began in March 2011 - now more fighters are flocking to the area as social media helps draw new recruits . The security concerns over the last year underscore an . increasingly volatile world with more outbreaks of instability . since the fall of the Soviet Union , Brennan said . And while agencies such as the CIA have worked to boost . their capability of fighting cyber-based threats , those bent on . committing acts of terror have also improved their use of . technologies , he added . Brennan said governments would have to work with private . industry and other partners to identify and track down . extremists , pointing to the ongoing conflict in Syria and Iraq . and the challenge of foreign fighters engaging in the conflict . there as a top priority . There , he said , 'at least 20,000 fighters from more than 90. countries have gone to fight - several thousand of them from . Western nations , including the United States . '
CIA Director John Brennan , in a speech in New York , said e-communications only add to the difficulty of dealing with diffuse threats . Comment: