WikiLeaks has released the largest ever publication of confidential documents belonging to US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). These documents belong to period 2013-2016 and were part of CIA’s Centre for Cyber Intelligence situated at Langley, Virginia. The first part of the leak, code named “Year Zero” has total of 8,761 documents have been released. CIA produced weaponized software to hack nearly every internet connected device on the face of earth. The hacking techniques targeted Apple phones & computes, android phones, Windows Operating System, Smart TVs and even software used in cars.
The key findings from the documents are:
- Smart TVs: CIA developed a method to hack Samsung Smart TVs in cooperation with UK’s MI5/BTSS.
- Smart Cars: As of October’2014, CIA was looking at remotely hacking and controlling the Vehicle software used in Cars and Trucks. As per WikiLeaks “The purpose of such control is not specified, but it would permit the CIA to engage in nearly undetectable assassinations.”
- Android Operating System: As of 2016, CIA had developed 24 “Weaponised” hacks into Android Operating system, which is run of 85% of the phones in the world.
- Apple iPhones & iPads: CIA’s Mobile Development Branch produced malware to infest, control and exfiltrate data from iPhones and other Apple products running iOS, such as iPads.
“There is an extreme proliferation risk in the development of cyber ‘weapons’. Comparisons can be drawn between the uncontrolled proliferation of such ‘weapons’, which results from the inability to contain them combined with their high market value, and the global arms trade. But the significance of “Year Zero” goes well beyond the choice between cyberwar and cyberpeace. The disclosure is also exceptional from a political, legal and forensic perspective” said Julian Assange in a press statement released by WikiLeaks.
