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WikiLeaks posts redacted files purported to be hacked from CIA

  • Washington Post – WikiLeaks posts files it says are from the CIA’s computer hacking arsenal – “The anti-secrecy organization said the trove exceeded in scale and significance the massive collection of National Security Agency documents exposed by former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. A statement from WikiLeaks indicated that it planned to post nearly 9,000 files containing code developed in secret by the CIA to steal data from targets overseas and turn ordinary devices, including cellphones, computers and even television sets, into surveillance tools.”
  • Washington Post – WikiLeaks: CIA is using popular TVs, smartphones and cars to spy on their owners – “The latest revelations about the U.S. government’s powerful hacking tools potentially take surveillance right into the homes and pockets of billions of users worldwide, showing how everyday devices can be turned to spy on their owners.”
  • New York Times – WikiLeaks Files Describe C.I.A. Tools to Break Into Phones – Documents that appear to be from the C.I.A. describe software designed to hack smartphones, computers and internet-connected TVs. They indicate that the agency, by compromising the phones entirely, was able to access the contents of encrypted messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp….”
  • EFF – “Wikileaks today released documents that appear to describe software tools used by the CIA to break into the devices that we all use at home and work. While we are still reviewing the material, we have not seen any indications that the encryption of popular privacy apps such as Signal and WhatsApp has been broken. We believe that encryption still offers significant protection against surveillance. The worst thing that could happen is for users to lose faith in encryption-enabled tools and stop using them. The releases do reaffirm that users should make sure they are using the most current version of the apps on their devices.  And vendors should move quickly to patch these flaws to protect users from both government and criminal attackers. The dark side of this story is that the documents confirm that the CIA holds on to security vulnerabilities in software and devices—including Android phones, iPhones, and Samsung televisions—that millions of people around the world rely on. The agency appears to have failed to accurately assess the risk of not disclosing vulnerabilities to responsible vendors and failed to follow even the limited Vulnerabilities Equities Process. As these leaks show, we’re all made less safe by the CIA’s decision to keep —  rather than ensure the patching of — vulnerabilities. Even spy agencies like the CIA have a responsibility to protect the security and privacy of Americans.”
  • WikiLeaks releases 8,761 alleged CIA classified docs and files from 2013-2016 describing malware, zero-day exploits for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux

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