NSA able to target offline computers using radio-waves

Razor

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NSA able to target offline computers using radio-waves for surveillance, cyber-attacks

The National Security Agency has implanted software in about 100,000 computers around the world, allowing the United States to surveil those machines while creating a trail that can be used to launch cyber-attacks.

Though most of the software is installed by gaining access to computer networks, the NSA can also employ technology that enters computers and alters data without needing internet access.

The secret technology uses covert radio waves transmitted from small circuit boards and USB cards clandestinely inserted into targeted computers, The New York Times reported. The waves can then be sent to a briefcase-sized relay station intelligence agencies can set up just miles away, according to NSA documents, computer experts and US officials.

The radio frequency technology - which often needs to be physically inserted by a spy, manufacturer or unwitting user - has helped US spies access computers that global adversaries have gone to great lengths to protect from surveillance or cyber-attack.

The NSA calls use of the infiltration software and radio technology - all part of a program known as Quantum - "active defense" against cyber-attacks, though it has condemned use of similar software by Chinese attackers against American companies or government agencies.

"What's new here is the scale and the sophistication of the intelligence agency's ability to get into computers and networks to which no one has ever had access before," James Andrew Lewis, cyber security expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told The Times. "Some of these capabilities have been around for a while, but the combination of learning how to penetrate systems to insert software and learning how to do that using radio frequencies has given the U.S. a window it's never had before."

Quantum targets
The Chinese Army has been the most frequent target of Quantum. The US has accused the Chinese Army of infiltrating American industrial and military targets to often pilfer secrets or intellectual property.

Other Quantum targets include Russian military networks, systems used by Mexican police and drug cartels, trade institutions within the European Union and even allies like Saudi Arabia, according to American officials and NSA materials that show sites that the agency calls "computer network exploitation."

There is no evidence that Quantum's capabilities were used in the US. While not commenting on the scope of the program, the NSA said Quantum is not comparable to actions by the Chinese.

"NSA's activities are focused and specifically deployed against — and only against — valid foreign intelligence targets in response to intelligence requirements," Vanee Vines, an agency spokeswoman, said in a statement. "We do not use foreign intelligence capabilities to steal the trade secrets of foreign companies on behalf of — or give intelligence we collect to — U.S. companies to enhance their international competitiveness or increase their bottom line."
NSA able to target offline computers using radio-waves for surveillance, cyber-attacks — RT USA

Among the most frequent targets of the N.S.A. and its Pentagon partner, United States Cyber Command, have been units of the Chinese Army, which the United States has accused of launching regular digital probes and attacks on American industrial and military targets, usually to steal secrets or intellectual property. But the program, code-named Quantum, has also been successful in inserting software into Russian military networks and systems used by the Mexican police and drug cartels, trade institutions inside the European Union, and sometime partners against terrorism like Saudi Arabia, India and Pakistan, according to officials and an N.S.A. map that indicates sites of what the agency calls "computer network exploitation."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/u...connected-to-internet.html?smid=tw-share&_r=2
 

Yusuf

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Any hardware purchase by gvt agencies becomes suspect. There can be collusion between say Intel and NSA and no one will ever know what's screwing them.

Hats off to the foresight, ideas, capabilities of the US. Others can only whine out of jealousy :(
 

Razor

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Any hardware purchase by gvt agencies becomes suspect. There can be collusion between say Intel and NSA and no one will ever know what's screwing them.

Hats off to the foresight, ideas, capabilities of the US. Others can only whine out of jealousy :(
It would be surprising to me if they don't have a collaboration.
It had long been rumored that NSA had backdoors to encryption technologies and recently it was proved that RSA provided NSA with backdoors in the security softwares that it sold to its customers.
RSA Security - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 

A chauhan

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Great idea ! :shocked: :O :tape: :hail:

Install a physical switch to detach Ethernet/LAN during offline use ! ?
 

sayareakd

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Scary for govt now they have to put all the sensative computers into metal net enclosers so that no wave can go or come out.
One such thing was shown in the movie enemy of the state.
 

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