stolen sim card keys could be powerful spy tool
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

US 'hacked into' European manufacturer Gemalto

Stolen SIM card keys could be powerful spy tool

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Stolen SIM card keys could be powerful spy tool

SIM cards used for mobile phones
Washington - Arab Today

It would be another powerful tool in the arsenal of US and British spy services: encryption keys for a large share of the SIM cards used for mobile phones.
A report by the investigative news website The Intercept, citing leaked documents from former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, said the US and British agencies "hacked into" European manufacturer Gemalto to gain these keys.
The report, if accurate, could allow the NSA and its British counterpart GCHQ to secretly monitor a large portion of global communications over mobile devices without using a warrant or wiretap.
"This is a huge deal," said Bruce Schneier, a cryptographer who is chief technology officer at the security firm Resilient Systems, and a fellow at Harvard's Berkman Center.
"The things that are the most egregious are when the NSA hacks everybody to get a few people," Schneier told AFP.
"They're getting encryption keys of everybody, including you and me. It's a scorched earth policy."
The report suggests the intelligence services could have access to a wider range of communications than has been previously reported. Other documents have indicated that the NSA can monitor email and traditional phone communications.
Schneier said the report is credible and probably indicates other SIM card makers were hacked as well.
"Do we think this is the only company? Odds are low," he said.
David Perry, threat strategist at the security firm F-Secure, called the revelations "the biggest story on mobile privacy we've seen so far."
The report is troubling, Perry said, because of the methods described.
"Intelligence services are hacking all the time," he said. "What concerns me is that they would go into a factory and spoil the security at the point of origination."
The NSA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Gemalto said in a statement that it takes the matter "very seriously and will devote all resources necessary to fully investigate" the allegations.
It added that the intended target was "not Gemalto, per se -- it was an attempt to try and cast the widest net possible to reach as many mobile phones as possible."
- Unanswered questions -
Yet the report leaves many questions unanswered, and some experts were cautious about jumping to conclusions about the documents.
"One of the reasons I'm skeptical is that different governments have been using other methods to grab communications and wireless data which are unsecured to begin with," said Darren Hayes, director of cybersecurity at Pace University's School of Computer Science and Information Systems.
"I'm not sure that the US or UK governments would use hackers in the same way that the Chinese or Russians are doing."
Schneier said more information is needed to know exactly what the encryption keys would provide, but says it is likely that they would allow access to the phone communications rather than the data transfer, so SMS or voice messages might be accessed but not Skype or other Internet-based services.
"I think the company should do what Sony did (after being hacked) -- hire a forensics team," Schneier said.
"We need details on how this was done and what can be done to remedy it."
Greg Nojeim, a lawyer for the Center for Democracy and Technology, a digital rights organization, said the revelation suggests privacy of people around the world is at risk.
"Almost everyone in the world carries cell phones and this is an unprecedented mass attack on the privacy of citizens worldwide," Nojeim said.
"While there is certainly value in targeted surveillance of cell phone communications, this coordinated subversion of the trusted technical security infrastructure of cell phones means the US and British governments now have easy access to our mobile communications."
John Pirc, co-founder of the Virginia-based security firm Bricata, said the report is "plausible" and, if true, could undermine confidence in mobile communications.
"If someone had access to the SIM card and put malware on it, that means anyone can get in," Pirc said.
He added that the revelations could end up hurting manufacturers or carriers if they fail to take steps to correct any security weaknesses.
"If this turns out to be true, every consumer should ask for a new SIM card," Pirc said.
Source: AFP

almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

stolen sim card keys could be powerful spy tool stolen sim card keys could be powerful spy tool

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

stolen sim card keys could be powerful spy tool stolen sim card keys could be powerful spy tool

 



Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017

GMT 09:22 2018 Monday ,22 January

Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way

GMT 11:03 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Modern colorful bedroom renovation

GMT 10:57 2017 Thursday ,21 December

Modern colorful bedroom renovation
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president

GMT 13:56 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 10:47 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 12:48 2011 Monday ,04 July

Gilbert favourite for win number 2 on Tour

GMT 08:12 2017 Wednesday ,15 February

UAE, Pakistan can benefit from CPEC, says envoy

GMT 09:07 2016 Friday ,19 August

Gawker.com to shut down next week

GMT 03:39 2012 Saturday ,04 August

Shyamalan, Noxon team up for Syfy pilot

GMT 20:13 2012 Friday ,21 December

We need a new cabinet to solve the crisis

GMT 10:01 2014 Thursday ,31 July

Kirstie Alley's TV Land series canceled

GMT 08:15 2016 Thursday ,29 December

Why Don’t We Conserve Water?

GMT 10:58 2011 Sunday ,17 July

IMF urges Europe to bolster lenders

GMT 18:21 2011 Wednesday ,29 June

Zarkana\': Cirque du Soleil debuts new gamble in NY

GMT 11:24 2013 Wednesday ,24 July

Living room interior decoration ideas

GMT 08:35 2012 Thursday ,24 May

Ancient jewellery found in Israel

GMT 14:32 2011 Friday ,16 September

The Fat Years

GMT 11:32 2015 Tuesday ,06 January

Why are there spots on my apple?
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
 
 Almaghrib Today Facebook,almaghrib today facebook  Almaghrib Today Twitter,almaghrib today twitter Almaghrib Today Rss,almaghrib today rss  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

.almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday almaghribtoday almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday