espionage
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Leaked documents detail how and why NSA targets network admins
With the amount of NSA-related information that's been leaked to the press, one may wonder if the feds will have anything new to share whenever the agency's first transparency report releases. The latest info is that the NSA was targeting foreign network administrators to gain access to the networks they control, as late as 2012. Edward Snowden gave The Intercept a handful of screengrabs from an internal agency message board that, among other things, detail how the NSA can monitor calls and emails moving through a foreign telco's network simply by having access to the system admin's PC. The steps for that apparently include grabbing the admin's IP address, and from there hacking the user's Facebook or web-mail accounts to gain full access to their computer via surveillance malware.
Invisible, Inc update comes in from the cold
Klei Entertainment's turn-based espionage game Invisible, Inc remains in alpha testing, but to whet players' appetites, the developer has cobbled together the above trailer to demonstrate the additions found in the game's latest update. Highlights of the update include a new 360-degree field of vision for agents, stronger guards and the addition of "augments." These special upgrades enhance an agent's abilities beyond normal human levels, but each occupies a permanent space in a player's augment cache, forcing tough decisions about which skills are most crucial for a virtual spy. On the other hand, this update also adds a tutorial to Invisible, Inc, which should make the spy game a bit less confusing. Full details on the update can be found on the Klei forums. Or, if you're totally sold on Invisible, Inc, you can join the game's ongoing alpha test by forking over $20. For that money, you'll be granted alpha access, the game's soundtrack and two copies of the final version of Invisible, Inc. [Image: Klei Entertainment]
Snowden leak suggests UK was spying on Belgian telecom
When Belgian prosecutors suggested that Belgacom was the target of foreign espionage, many blamed the NSA -- it has a history of snooping on other countries, after all. Those accusations may have been off the mark, however. Der Spiegel has revealed documents leaked by Edward Snowden which hint that the UK's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) was responsible. The intelligence agency reportedly tricked key Belgacom staff into visiting a malware-loaded website that hijacked their PCs. GCHQ could then spy on smartphones, map the network and investigate secure VPN connections. Neither Belgacom nor Belgium has responded to this latest Snowden leak, but we wouldn't be surprised if the apparent evidence speeds up their investigation.
Belgium looks into claims of foreign spying against its biggest telecom
Europeans are already jittery about possible foreign surveillance of their communications; today, those worries have reached a fever pitch. Belgian government investigators now suspect that a recently discovered virus in the internal systems of Belgacom, the country's telecom giant, was planted as part of state-backed cyber espionage. The malware's sophistication, scale and strategic focus suggest an attacker with "significant financial and logistic means," according to prosecutors. Neither side has officially named a culprit. Local newspaper De Standaard isn't quite so reticent, however -- it alleges that the NSA has been spying on Belgacom's voice traffic for at least two years, and that the discovery was prompted by Edward Snowden's leaks. Whether or not the NSA is involved, the damage may be limited. Belgacom scrubbed its systems clean this weekend, and it doesn't believe that the attack compromised customer data. [Thanks, Joachim / image credit: Diluvienne, Flickr] Dan Cooper contributed to this report.
Huawei tells ex-CIA director, UK government to 'put up or shut up' about spying claims
Though Huawei seems to spend just about as much time denying spying claims as it does building handsets and telecom equipment, it's just taken that rhetoric up a notch. The company's vice president, William Plummer, just demanded the US and UK "shut up" about such allegations unless they can prove them. That's in response to a recent statement from former CIA head Michael Hayden, who accused the company of sharing "extensive knowledge of the foreign telecommunications systems" it worked on with the Chinese government. UK watchdogs also piled on, saying they would conduct a review of Huawei's new Cyber Security Evaluation Center over a lack of information about its links to the Chinese government. The beleaguered outfit responded that "these tired, unsubstantiated, defamatory remarks are sad distractions from real-world concerns related to espionage, industrial and otherwise." Those remarks show that Huawei's hit a whole new level of frustration, but given recent White House accusations against China, it's not likely to get any better.
European Parliament votes to investigate US surveillance of EU residents
Not surprisingly, the European Parliament isn't happy to hear that the NSA and other US agencies are allegedly snooping on communications in Europe and elsewhere. It isn't just complaining loudly, however -- the Parliament just voted 483-98 in favor of a resolution that will investigate US surveillance activities in Europe and report on their impact before the end of the year. The measure also asks EU officials to consider limiting the data they voluntarily provide to American authorities, such as shutting down programs that forward air passenger and bank records. There's nothing in the resolution that would immediately affect the EU-to-US communication pipeline, but that could change in half a year -- US intelligence outlets may not get their European information served on a silver platter for much longer. [Image credit: JLogan, Wikipedia]
France reportedly has its own PRISM-like data surveillance system
The US isn't the only western country with an all-seeing digital eye... at least, according to Le Monde. The news outlet claims that France's General Directorate for External Security has a PRISM-like system that captures and processes the metadata for "billions and billions" of communications, including internet messaging, phone calls, SMS and even faxes. The goal is ostensibly to track the behavior of terrorist cells, but the Directorate allegedly shares the anonymized information with other intelligence services, including the police. Whether or not residents can do much about the snooping, if real, is another matter. One source believes that it exists in a gray area, as French law reportedly doesn't account for the possibility of storing personal data this way. We're skeptical of claims that the Directorate can spy on "anyone, anytime," especially without official commentary, but we'd suggest that locals be careful with their secrets all the same. Dan Cooper contributed to this report.
UK reportedly set up fake internet cafes, hacked diplomats' BlackBerrys during 2009 G20 summit
If you're antsy at the idea of PRISM reading your Facebook messages, be thankful you're not a foreign diplomat. The Guardian is reporting that GCHQ, the UK's communications surveillance unit, hacked delegates' BlackBerry handsets during 2009's G20 summit in London. According to leaked documents, spies were able to relay private messages to analysts in "near real-time," and pass that information along to top politicians as they were negotiating deals. The organization is also said to have set up fake internet cafés around the conference area, which used key-logging software to steal dignitaries' passwords for long-term surveillance. If you'll excuse us, we're just off to, you know, change all of our login details.
US Navy's Ion Tiger drone leans on liquid hydrogen for longer-lasting spy flight
The US Navy's quieter way to spy, the Ion Tiger, just bested its own 2009 flight record with a key assist from liquid hydrogen. The unmanned aerial vehicle had previously relied on 5000-psi compressed hydrogen for fuel, but for its latest flight test the Naval Research team swapped that out for a new cryogenic tank and delivery system that relies on the liquid stuff; a choice made for the element's increased density. With that one significant change in place, the craft was able to outperform its last endurance run of 26 hours and two minutes by almost double, lasting 48 hours and one minute in a flight made mid-April. Spying: it's not only good for the government, it's good for the environment, too.
Pentagon report marks first direct accusations of Chinese cyber-espionage
The US Department of Defense has taken the unusual step of singling out China's cyber-spying activities in its annual report. Though the government has tacitly chided such deeds before and even threatened sanctions, yesterday's document marks the DoD's first direct allegation of Chinese espionage. It said that hacks directed toward government and business "appear to be attributable directly to the Chinese government and military" for the purpose of "exfiltrating information" to benefit its defense and industry. The paper also highlighted China's "lack of transparency" with regard to its military, saying that expenditures on cyber-military operations and other defense spending were likely far in excess of the $114 billion it reported. Meanwhile, China denied the accusations, saying it was equally the victim of similar breaches, and suggested that the two nations work together to resolve the problem.
Four workers sentenced in Samsung, SK Hynix corporate theft affair
There's finally resolution to a case that dates back almost three years, in which chip subcontractor Applied Materials was accused of stealing semiconductor secrets from Samsung and supplying them to its arch chip rival SK Hynix. According to Korean media outlets YTN and Yonhap, one Samsung employee along with two SK Hynix workers and one of its subcontractors received suspended prison sentences of up to a year with two years of probation. Eighteen defendants from Samsung, SK Hynix and Applied Materials were originally charged, but no high-level management employees were reported to be involved. Applied Materials and Samsung arrived at a civil settlement late in 2010, so this seems to put a wrap on the entire sordid affair.
Chinese state media accuses Cisco of helping US spies, sees turnabout as fair play
We get the impression China isn't very happy that the names of Huawei and ZTE are being dragged through the mud in the US. Almost directly mirroring some American stances, state-backed Chinese media outlets such as China Economy & Informatization and People's Daily are raising alarm bells over Cisco's presence in a large amount of local network infrastructure, alleging that it's a potential backdoor for espionage; CE&I goes so far as to cite purported experts insisting that the US government could take over Chinese communications in a crisis. China Unicom is acting on the threat by phasing out Cisco gear, the magazine says. Other allegations point to 72 members of Congress possibly being influenced by their Cisco shares and the ever-controversial Patriot Act aiding any nefarious plans. Given the publications' ultimate benefactors, the chances of politics skewing the agenda are high -- although the collective stance underscores just how much tension has surfaced ever since Chinese tech giants got the evil eye.
Jailed ARMA devs thank fans and friends for support in handwritten note
The Bohemia Interactive developers being detained in Greece sent a handwritten note to fans and friends expressing thanks for words of encouragement and the knowledge that they are "not forgotten." The note, sent last week, is now online at HelpIvanMartin.org.Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar were arrested after being accused of spying on Greek military installations on the island of Lemnos. They've since spent 81 days in jail, with the Czech president recently asking the Greek president to treat their case with "special care."In the note, the Czech devs say they are being treated well, and that they are doing their best "to stay optimistic and use this time well." They go on to thank the 14,000+ signatories of the petition created to show support for the detained pair.We have a full version of the note in text after the break.
Czech diplomats get involved in ARMA developer detainment in Greece
A Czech ambassador was reportedly invited to a meeting by the Greek president regarding the detainment of Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar, two developers from Bohemia Interactive accused of espionage. HelpIvanMartin.org, which has been following all the developments of the case, states the meeting was set up following a letter from Czech President Vaclav Klaus to Greek President Karolos Papoulias.HelpIvanMartin.org have a full primetime news report with translation on the diplomatic maneuvering. The developers were recently refused bail and are accused for photographing Greek military installations on the island of Lemnos. They have been in jail for 75 days.
Jailed ARMA devs have been refused bail
Detained ArmA 3 developers Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar have been denied an appeal against their espionage charges. Eurogamer, working off a translation of news site Rozhlas, reports the pair of Czech developers have now been held for over 70 days, waiting weeks longer to have their appeal heard due to a strike in the Greek legal system.Developer Bohemia Interactive previously stated the two men were on vacation and were not there on official company business. The pair stated two months ago the incident was a "completely absurd misunderstanding."The men are reportedly in a cell with over 25 people, sleeping on the ground. According to family members, the tone of their conversations with the men have changed to them asking to be saved. The Czech government claims it is doing what it can. Bohemia has set up a site to show support.
Reuters: White House finds no evidence of spying by Huawei, feels unsafe anyway (update: White House denies)
Just last week, a Congress committee associated Huawei with "credible allegations" of "bribery, corruption, discriminatory behavior and copyright infringement." The report, of course, was part of the Legislative branch's ongoing concern of the company's alleged threat to national security. Today Huawei may have finally caught a break from the US government, albeit a somewhat backhanded one: according to Reuters, a White House ordered review says that there is no evidence of spying on the Chinese company's part. The other side of the hand lands when the report cites exploitable vulnerabilities in Huawei hardware -- one person familiar with the White House review said it found the company's equipment "riddled with holes," and susceptible to hacking. Security complaints aside, the government's old spying concerns are still there. "China has the means, opportunity and motive to use telecommunications companies for malicious purposes," said the House Intelligence Committee's Dutch Ruppersberger, explaining to Reuters that both Huawei and ZTE has pinned their limited cooperation on restrictions from the local government. Even if Huawei hasn't been caught spying, it's still something it could do -- and that's reason enough, it seems, for the US government to avoid doing business with the firm. Update: White House spokesperson Caitlin Hayden told The Hill that no such investigation has been made, stating: "The White House has not conducted any classified inquiry that resulted in clearing any telecom equipment buyer as reported in Reuters," recalling the US government's exclusion of Huawei in the planning for America's interoperable wireless emergency network.
Huawei and ZTE cry foul at US Congress' accusations, say the report was rigged
Chinese telecoms giants Huawei and ZTE have responded to Congress' claims that neither company could be trusted to sell hardware to the US. Both feel that they've been victimized, with ZTE pointing out that since no Chinese company is "free from state influence," the report should have included every tech business based there. Huawei, on the other hand, took a more resigned (albeit snarky) tone, saying that the committee was "committed to a predetermined outcome," and that the business is no different from any Silicon Valley start-up. With the ball firmly in Congress' court, it remains to be seen what action the government will take, but we suspect this one's got the capacity to run and run.
ARMA devs detained in Greece call incident 'completely absurd misunderstanding'
Bohemia Interactive developers Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar, currently detained in Greece on what are reported espionage charges, have relayed a statement to their friends and family."The conditions are tough, but the people we meet treat us fairly and correctly. It is all a completely absurd misunderstanding that will certainly be quickly explained," the pair, currently being held in Mytilene, wrote. "We mainly think of you, our families; you have to stay calm and not to worry about us. We hope we will meet soon."Bohemia continues to state that the two men were on vacation and were not there on official company business. Furthermore, the company states the pair did not enter any military area and did not take any pictures of military objects for use in the upcoming ARMA 3.
Security researchers dissect Flame's handling program, find three new viruses 'at large'
It seems Stuxnet and Flame aren't the only out-of-control cyber-weapons roaming around the Middle East. Security researchers from Symantec and Kaspersky have found that the Flame malware had the electronic equivalent of a "handler," a program called NEWSFORYOU, which is also in charge of three further viruses that are code-named SP, SPE and IP. The trio have yet to be analyzed, because although a cache of data has been discovered on a command-and-control server, decoding it has proved "virtually impossible." While both security companies have declined to point a finger as to the viruses' origin, Reuters' sources suggest they're from the United States, while The Washington Post has been told that the project was a joint-enterprise with Israel -- in keeping with the existing narrative that this is the pair behind Stuxnet.
Employees of ARMA dev arrested on spying charges in Greece
Bohemia Interactive is currently unable to provide comment about two alleged employees arrested in Greece on suspicion of espionage. IN.gr reports two Czech citizens were found in possession of video and photos of military installations on the island of Lemnos, Greece.The two men, aged 28 and 33, have been charged with espionage. The pair apparently told authorities they work for Bohemia Interactive and were collecting images for ARMA 3."We would like to apologize for not providing any statement, but we do not have any official and confirmed information at the moment," Bohemia Interactive told us. "For more details please contact Czech Embassy in Greece or Czech ministry of foreign affairs."We've reached out to both entities for further comment. We'll update as information becomes available.Update: CVG spoke with a producer at Bohemia Interactive who confirmed the men's employment, he also added the pair are being transferred to the district court, but have yet to be charged.Update 2: Bohemia Interactive's CEO speaks, statement after the break.Update 3: From the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic follows the case, however, there is no official statement on this."
