Ride the Lightning

NSA Hacking Cellphone Networks Worldwide

December 9, 2014

Somehow, with all we have learned since last year, it does not come as a shock that the NSA is hacking cellphone networks globally.

Still, the story is compelling reading from The Intercept. It is also no shock that the documentation comes from data revealed by Edward Snowden – it shows that the operation codenamed AURORAGOLD appears aimed at ensuring that virtually every cellphone network in the world is accessible to the NSA.

The operations seems to have been active since 2010 – the newly-released documents show that, as of May 2012, the NSA had collected technical information on about 70% of cellphone networks worldwide – 701 of an estimated 985.

AURORAGOLD has monitored the content of messages sent and received by more than 1,200 e-mail accounts associated with major cellphone network operators, intercepting confidential company planning papers that help the NSA hack into phone networks.

The operation allows the NSA to track and circumvent upgrades in encryption technology used by cellphone companies to shield calls and texts from eavesdropping. Particularly alarming is the evidence that the NSA has deliberately plotted to weaken the security of communication infrastructure. As it does so, the weaknesses can be exploited not only by the NSA, but anyone else as well.

I am certainly alarmed at this latest revelation – and I hope you are too.

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