WikiLeaks Releases Alleged Documents on CIA Hacking

WikiLeaks Releases Alleged Documents on CIA Hacking

  • Mar 08, 2017

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

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

  • Why the Future of Video Security Is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reasons. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • 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.

  • 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.