Classified Top-secret documents reveal that the National Security Agency is dramatically expanding its ability to covertly hack into computers on a massive scale by using automated systems that can and will reduce the level of human oversight in the process.
The source for the information on this wide-spread and automated attack comes from none-0ther than Edward Snowden – the whistleblower now living overseas in exile, trying to avoid extradition to the United States on espionage and treason charges.
Why is this so scary? Because the use of these automated system will mean that infection of millions of machines is possible, up from the hundreds of manually infected machines previously managed by the NSA’s team of cyber-hackers.
Experts such as F-Secure’s Miko Hypponen call the revelations “disturbing” and warn that these automated hacking systems have the potential to undermine the security of the entire internet!
“When they deploy malware on systems,” Hypponen says, “they potentially create new vulnerabilities in these systems, making them more vulnerable for attacks by third parties.”
Plans revealed in secret meeting and memos from the Edwards Snowden leaked files reveal that NSA planned to execute Man in the Middle (MitM) style attacks, often masquerading as well known sites, such as Facebook.
This revelation is in no small part, suspected of being the reason for Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s call to President Obama – where Zuckerberg says he called to “frustration over the damage the government is creating for all of our future. Unfortunately, it seems like it will take a very long time for true full reform.”
Security experts seems to agree though – the NSA posing as popular website and trying their MitM attacks to target either specific groups, individuals, or en-mass.
In a response to a CNBC.com report on this very topic, is seems the NSA denies that they are undertaking these types of mass-infections:
A spokesperson from the NSA responded in an email to CNBC.com shortly after publication.
“Recent media reports that allege NSA has infected millions of computers around the world with malware, and that NSA is impersonating U.S. social media or other websites, are inaccurate. NSA uses its technical capabilities only to support lawful and appropriate foreign intelligence operations, all of which must be carried out in strict accordance with its authorities,” the email said.
“Reports of indiscriminate computer exploitation operations are simply false.”
Our take? The government will listen to the gripes, deny them as usual – and carry on regardless…
Sources:
- Firstlook.org – article on “How the NSA Plans to Infect ‘Millions’ of Computers with Malware”
- RT.com – article on “Snowden leak: NSA plans to infect ‘millions’ of computers”
- USAToday.com – article on “Zuckerberg calls Obama to protest NSA”
- Mark Zuckerberg – His personal blog
- CNBC.com article on ‘NSA posing as a popular site is probably common, say experts’