Breaking: Wikileaks Publishes the Cyber Intelligence Capabilities of the CIA

[Blackjack200]

Still unauthenticated, but I'm posting this based on Wikileaks's track record. Huge, huge story if true.

http://time.com/4693332/wikileaks-documents-cia-cyber-intelligence/

 

[Commodus]

Can't help but wonder about the timing. It's entirely possible that it's coincidence, but it comes right as Trump and the Republicans are angry at the intelligence agency for raising valid suspicions about Trump's connection to Russia. This conveniently shifts the attention to the CIA's techniques (which may be problematic, to be sure) instead of any dirt it may have on Trump.

 

[Blackjack200]

On first pass from the NYT:

Among other disclosures that, if confirmed, will rock the tech world, the WikiLeaks release said that the C.I.A. and allied intelligence services had managed to bypass encryption on popular phone and messaging services such as Signal, WhatsApp and Telegram. According to the statement from WikiLeaks, government hackers can penetrate Android phones and collect “audio and message traffic before encryption is applied.”

Notably absent: ios encryption

 

[Commodus]

On first pass from the NYT:

Among other disclosures that, if confirmed, will rock the tech world, the WikiLeaks release said that the C.I.A. and allied intelligence services had managed to bypass encryption on popular phone and messaging services such as Signal, WhatsApp and Telegram. According to the statement from WikiLeaks, government hackers can penetrate Android phones and collect “audio and message traffic before encryption is applied.”

Notably absent: ios encryption

One important disclaimer, though: this isn't the same as cracking the apps themselves. It's intercepting that data before it's transmitted. You still want to use Signal, Telegram and the like if you're interested in security -- just don't open strange attachments and web links that might lead to your phone being infected.

 

[kage69]

Things are getting rough for Dump, time for Putin to help out again.

 

[agent00f]

Basically it looks like they have some 0-day hack on the OS, ie android, which is hardly surprising. They or some other agency likely have the same on iOS.

Things are getting rough for Dump, time for Putin to help out again.

Probably the case now that they're known to be russian stooges. Supposedly this archive has been around for a while in that gov hacking community meaning state actors have access to it.

 

[Denly]

There have been stories about o/s back door for a very long time, from large corp order laptop without webcam to some claim Android phone have ad pop up after the user have a conversation about a specific product to don't buy smart TV to movies base on this specific issue. there isn't much people can do, they're not going to leave their android/ios/windows at home. Maybe now CIA will come to the surface like England.

 

[PokerGuy]

I certainly would not be in the least bit surprised that the NSA, CIA and whatever other agencies have backdoors into all sorts of consumer products, including android phones, popular messaging apps etc. Think about how convenient it is for them to have open mic's and cameras on every phone, TV, gaming console and "smart" device in the home out there -- regardless of what promises of security and privacy are made. Same for all the cloud services -- you're crazy if you think the spooks don't have access to everything in every cloud if they want it.

 

[yllus]

Yeah, the NYT has worded it a bit misleadingly - the CIA hasn't broken Signal or Whatsapp (to our current knowledge). They're simply intercepting the text going into it.

 

[PokerGuy]

Had a chance to read a little more about it, this is a pretty big deal. Way more documents than Snowden released, and the impact could be just as big or even bigger.

 

[Commodus]

I certainly would not be in the least bit surprised that the NSA, CIA and whatever other agencies have backdoors into all sorts of consumer products, including android phones, popular messaging apps etc. Think about how convenient it is for them to have open mic's and cameras on every phone, TV, gaming console and "smart" device in the home out there -- regardless of what promises of security and privacy are made. Same for all the cloud services -- you're crazy if you think the spooks don't have access to everything in every cloud if they want it.

I don't think they actively bug large volumes of devices, so it's doubtful that your phone or TV is eavesdropping on you. However, this does mean that the CIA has far-reaching powers if it does decide that you're a target.

Also, I'd be careful about presuming that surveillance teams have access to every cloud service. They might, but directly cracking already-encrypted data is tougher than intercepting unencrypted info on someone's phone or PC.

 

[Grooveriding]

This is not new information, except perhaps the secure app exploits. Snowden when he first ran told reporters that any cell phone could be turned into a bug. He had everyone put their phones in a microwave in his hotel room during the interviews. Anyone who paid attention to Snowden should know your cell phone is completely insecure, as well as any services provided by large tech companies, they are all back doored.

Putin had wiki leaks release the DNC emails, I agree this is probably interference being run for Trump.

 

[PokerGuy]

I don't think they actively bug large volumes of devices, so it's doubtful that your phone or TV is eavesdropping on you. However, this does mean that the CIA has far-reaching powers if it does decide that you're a target.

What that would mean is that they have access to those devices when they want/need, which means theoretically someone else could as well. Basically, all devices in your house that are connected to the internet are potential monitoring tools. Again, not surprising, but should be eye opening to some. Not everyone understands that when you have a TV that has a sensor for you to tell it what channel to put on, it can (and does) listen in on everything that happens in the house and stores that information for use by.... someone. Creepy for sure.

Also, I'd be careful about presuming that surveillance teams have access to every cloud service. They might, but directly cracking already-encrypted data is tougher than intercepting unencrypted info on someone's phone or PC.

That's true, unless that "already-encrypted" data is encrypted with tools that have been made to include flaws that allow for decryption. We already knew from the Snowden leaks how much the NSA was involved in making sure encryption standards and tools were fundamentally flawed/broken so the NSA could gain access.

 

[agent00f]

Had a chance to read a little more about it, this is a pretty big deal. Way more documents than Snowden released, and the impact could be just as big or even bigger.

Breaking news: intel agencies as largest employer of mathematicians and such have at least same hacking ability as any number of security researchers and hacking groups.

 

[norseamd]

Can't help but wonder about the timing. It's entirely possible that it's coincidence, but it comes right as Trump and the Republicans are angry at the intelligence agency for raising valid suspicions about Trump's connection to Russia. This conveniently shifts the attention to the CIA's techniques (which may be problematic, to be sure) instead of any dirt it may have on Trump.

The timings way way too coincidental to be coincidental.

 

[norseamd]

Had a chance to read a little more about it, this is a pretty big deal. Way more documents than Snowden released, and the impact could be just as big or even bigger.

Apparently the docs arent anywhere near as confidential or damaging however.

 

[woolfe9998]

Can't help but wonder about the timing. It's entirely possible that it's coincidence, but it comes right as Trump and the Republicans are angry at the intelligence agency for raising valid suspicions about Trump's connection to Russia. This conveniently shifts the attention to the CIA's techniques (which may be problematic, to be sure) instead of any dirt it may have on Trump.

Yes, this is only going to bolster right wing conspiracy theories. It's too bad because this is the sort of information the public should be informed about. But in this political environment, the information is certain to be misused.

 

[zinfamous]

 

[IGBT]

So the CIA pretended to be Russian Hackers...couple that with the on going Russian action lines and sound bites on the alphabet Liberal Media..and it all comes together. Looks like Trump was spot on again. So now we don't know where the Fake Russians-CIA and the alphabet Liberal Media end and begin!! More and more it looks like they are one in the same. A difference without a distinction.

 

[Jaskalas]

This really does raise the question if any foreign entity was involved in hacking the DNC or not.

 

[Svnla]

Big brother is watching indeed. In the name of "public safety", of course.

"1984" all over again.

Back to wire payphone and courier with hand written notes.

 

[baydude]

So the CIA pretended to be Russian Hackers...couple that with the on going Russian action lines and sound bites on the alphabet Liberal Media..and it all comes together. Looks like Trump was spot on again. So now we don't know where the Fake Russians-CIA and the alphabet Liberal Media end and begin!! More and more it looks like they are one in the same. A difference without a distinction.

We also don't know if the CIA misled the FBI or other IC and to what extent they're aware of this possibility of hacking impersonation.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

This really does raise the question if any foreign entity was involved in hacking the DNC or not.

How?

 

[agent00f]

So the CIA pretended to be Russian Hackers...couple that with the on going Russian action lines and sound bites on the alphabet Liberal Media..and it all comes together. Looks like Trump was spot on again. So now we don't know where the Fake Russians-CIA and the alphabet Liberal Media end and begin!! More and more it looks like they are one in the same. A difference without a distinction.

This really does raise the question if any foreign entity was involved in hacking the DNC or not.

Big brother is watching indeed. In the name of "public safety", of course.

"1984" all over again.

Back to wire payphone and courier with hand written notes.

We also don't know if the CIA misled the FBI or other IC and to what extent they're aware of this possibility of hacking impersonation.

Figures that blustering tards who don't know anything about computers, on a computer forum no less, fit the profile of tards who don't know anything about everything they blab about.

 

[cytg111]

Why is these wikileaks persistently anti-us ? where is the dirt on china russia EU? I think assange needs to be stopped.