WikiLeaks Releases Alleged Documents on CIA Hacking

WikiLeaks Releases Alleged Documents on CIA Hacking

WikiLeaks released thousands of documents that it said described the sophisticated software tools the Central Intelligence Agency uses to break into smartphones, computers and even internet-connected televisions, on Tuesday March 7.

The documents, which have not been confirmed as authentic to the CIA, include 7,818 web pages with 942 attachments, WikiLeaks said. The group has named the collection of released documents, “Vault 7.”

The source of the documents was not named, although it did say that Vault 7 had been “circulated among former U.S. government hackers and contractors in an unauthorized manner, one of whom has provided WikiLeaks with portions of the archive.”

The documents are dated from 2013 to 2016 and WikiLeaks has described them as “the largest ever publication of confidential documents on the agency.”

On Tuesday, a former intelligence officer who reviewed the documents said some of the code names for CIA programs, an organization chart and the description of a CIA hacking base seemed to be genuine.

Information released in these documents hint that CIA agents and allied intelligence services have been able to bypass encryption on popular phone and messaging services such as Signal, WhatsApp and Telegram.

In addition to the encryption hack, the documents also talk of a program code-named, “Weeping Angel” which uses a Samsung smart TV as covert listening devices. According to the WikiLeaks documents, even when the TV appears to be turned off, it is still on and listening to the conversations around it to send to CIA servers. The release said this program was created in cooperation with British intelligence.

Another program detailed in the documents is Umbrage, a voluminous library of cyberattack techniques that the CIA has collected from malware produced by other countries. Based on the leaked documents, CIA agents are able to mask the origin of some of its cyberattacks and confuse forensic investigators.

If proven to be authentic, the Vault 7 archive will fall into the same category as the biggest leaks of classified information in recent years, including the quarter million diplomatic cables taken by Chelsea Manning, the former Amry intelligence anyalyst and given to WikiLeaks in 2010, and the hundreds of thousands of documents taken from the National Security Agency by Edward Snowden and given to journalists in 2013.

Featured

  • Survey: 54% of Organizations Cite Technical Debt as Top Hurdle to Identity System Modernization

    Modernizing identity systems is proving difficult for organizations due to two key challenges: decades of accumulated Identity and Access Management (IAM) technical debt and the complexity of managing access across multiple identity providers (IDPs). These findings come from the new Strata Identity-commissioned report, State of Multi-Cloud Identity: Insights and Trends for 2025. The report, based on survey data from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), highlights trends and challenges in securing cloud environments. The CSA is the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. Read Now

  • Study: Only 35 Percent of Companies Include Cybersecurity Teams When Implementing AI

    Only 35 percent of cybersecurity professionals or teams are involved in the development of policy governing the use of AI technology in their enterprise, and nearly half (45 percent) report no involvement in the development, onboarding, or implementation of AI solutions, according to the recently released 2024 State of Cybersecurity survey report from ISACA, a global professional association advancing trust in technology. Read Now

  • New Report Series Highlights E-Commerce Threats, Fraud Against Retailers

    Trustwave, a cybersecurity and managed security services provider, recently released a series of reports detailing the threats facing the retail sector, marking the second year of its ongoing research into these critical security issues. Read Now

  • Stay Secure in 2024: Updated Cybersecurity Tips for the Office and at Home

    Cyber criminals get more inventive every year. Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and are a moving target for business owners in 2024. Companies large and small need to employ cybersecurity best practices throughout their organization. That includes security integrators, manufacturers, and end users. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis. 3

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening. 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3