US spy agency hacked Pakistani cellular networks, shows leaked data: HumSub.TV
US spy agency hacked Pakistani cellular networks, shows leaked data: HumSub.TV: A leaked arsenal of hacking tools allegedly belonging to the National Security Agency (NSA) shows the US spy agency infiltrated the servers of a major Pakistani cellular service provider.
The data dump, publicly released by the ShadowBrokers hacking group earlier this week, includes alleged digital weapons and notes shared by NSA operators about their access inside the servers of a Pakistani mobile network.
Notes contained in the massive dump of encrypted data, which is still being analysed by network security researchers, include details of how NSA used the exploits to infiltrate cellular operators in Pakistan.
One snippet from the leak, several terabytes in size, includes at least 14 lines mentioning different servers operated by a major Pakistani cellular network.
The snippet, analysed by a security researcher who goes by the name X0rz, appears to show NSA operators sharing a step-by-step technical guide on how to hack into the servers.
“Try one of the following…old way, may not work on new machines,” says one section of the snippet.
Another section appears to show methods to retrieve call logs of users of the Pakistani cellular service.
“If searching for LACs and cell id’s, use the format in the documentation…if searching for phone numbers, use the normal format,” it says.
In a tweet, Wikileaks claimed the leaked “NSA cyber weapons variants” include “code showing hacking of Pakistan mobile system”.
The data dump was publicly released earlier this week by the ShadowBrokers hacking group after it failed to auction the arsenal of hacking tools.
In a lengthy anonymous blog post, the group claimed it was releasing the files as a “form of protest” after losing faith in the leadership of US President Donald Trump.
ShadowBrokers had announced the auction for the alleged NSA cyber weapons in August last year.
The authenticity of the code being NSA software was later confirmed by documents provided by whistleblower and former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden to the Intercept.
The exploits are “part of a powerful constellation of tools used to covertly infect computers worldwide”, said the Intercept, whose editors include journalists that worked with Snowden to publicise his notorious 2013 NSA leak revealing the extent of government snooping on private data.
It is unclear when the tools were used or how many Pakistani cellular networks were infiltrated, as security researchers are still analysing the massive trove of leaked data over terabytes in size.
The Shadowbrokers release is the latest in a string of leaks from hackers and whistleblowers raising questions over a mass electronic surveillance, espionage, and infection program run by the United States.
Last year, documents released by Snowden confirmed that US agencies hacked into targets in the Pakistan’s National Telecommunications Corporation (NTC) to spy on the country’s political and military leadership.
In the leak of top-secret documents, Snowden released a classified draft NSA manual on how to implant the SECONDDATE malware – malicious code used to monitor or control someone else’s computer.
The draft NSA manual contained instructions telling NSA operators to use a specific string of characters associated with the SECONDDATE malware program.
The documents revealed at least “two documented cases of SECONDDATE being used to successfully infect computers overseas” including “successful attacks against computer systems in…Pakistan.”
A report by The Intercept claimed NSA hackers used the malicious program to breach targets in Pakistan’s NTC VIP Division, which contained documents pertaining to “the backbone of Pakistan’s Green Line communications network” used by the “civilian and military leadership”.
Last month, Wikileaks released its largest ever publication of confidential documents on the US Central Intelligence Agency.
The release purported to show that the CIA had lost control of a majority of its cyber weapons arsenal – including malware, viruses, trojans, and associated documentation – which it allegedly used to hack into US and European company products, including commonly used electronic devices and software such as Apple’s iPhone, Google’s Android, Microsoft’s Windows, and even Samsung TVs.
US spy agency hacked Pakistani cellular networks, shows leaked data: HumSub.TV
US spy agency hacked Pakistani cellular networks, shows leaked data: HumSub.TV
About HumSub TV
Introduction
HumSub TV is Pakistan’s leading forwarding-thinking, edutainment channel, aimed at promoting and upholding peace, interfaith harmony and social responsibility within Pakistan through informative and insightful programmes and documentaries; analytical interviews on issues pertaining to social, economic, legal and environmental set-up; dedicated shows to canvass and thereby promote the culture and heritage of Pakistan and in-depth coverage of national and international news.
HumSub TV is the first channel and thus a pioneer within its own right that mainly focuses on emphasising the “Rights” as well as the “Obligations” of the citizens in light of the Constitution of Pakistan, numerous International declarations signed by the Government and various laws that have been promulgated over the years but are not in the knowledge of the common citizen.
HumSub TV also aims to enter into bilateral agreements with other countries to promote not only their culture, heritage and tourism, but also their educational and medical facilities.
Following the successful launch of HumSub TV’s head office in Blue Area, Islamabad; the bureau office has been set up in Lahore.
Vision
To project positive image building of Pakistan and inculcate nationalism, as per the vision of the founder of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Mission
HumSub TV is resolute about the promotion of a pluralistic, inclusive and egalitarian society in Pakistan where all citizens are allowed to contribute to promote interfaith harmony, peace and collective wisdom in the social, political and economic development of Pakistan and to encourage critical and lateral thinking in the society. HumSub TV strives to make a positive contribution to this end.
HumSub TV’s Theme
HumSub TV, Pakistan’s first EDUTAINMENT Channel, has been set up for not only those audience residing in Pakistan or overseas but the international community on the whole. The vision of the channel is to project positive image building of Pakistan and inculcate nationalism as per the vision of the founder of the nation.
HumSub TV strives to make a positive contribution to this end by promoting pluralism, inclusiveness and egality in Pakistan and give voice to the suppressed. It endeavors to act as a positive catalyst for social change and Pakistani nationalism. It envisions providing a platform for airing critical and lateral thinking and collective wisdom by inviting positive minded intellectuals and opinion forming individuals for the promotion of interfaith harmony and peace in the social, political and economic development of Pakistan.
Whereas the channel airs upbeat edutainment programmes, it, nonetheless, has the primary objective of countering negative anti-Pakistan regional and international propaganda as well as advancing fundamental rights as encapsulated in the Constitution of Pakistan.
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