NSA Tapping Into Cellular Networks: Report - Snowden Documents Shines Light On Massive Project

A new report indicates the National Security Agency can easily, at any time, tap into cellular networks and begin gathering and collecting data.

In a lengthy piece, The Intercept reveals information initially leaked by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden contains data on the agency’s ability to work around security systems to tap into the networks. The report explains the agency had already obtained technical information about cellphone carriers’ internal systems via obtained documents sent among company employees. Those details were then exploited to provide a blueprint to help the military break into the networks.

Thanks to that blueprint, the NSA has, over the years, conducted spy tactics on hundreds of companies and organizations across the globe. Some of these are allied with the United States but were watched in attempts to find weaknesses in cellphone technology.

“Codenamed AURORAGOLD, the covert operation has monitored the content of messages sent and received by more than 1,200 email accounts associated with major cellphone network operators, intercepting confidential company planning papers that help the NSA hack into phone networks,” The Intercept reported.

The news is almost ironic as it was just last month when the agency’s director Adm. Michael Rogers, reported CNet, spoke to professor and students at Stanford University.

During that speech, Rogers said he hopes to see the NSA work more closely with communications agencies though he can appreciate their resistance to some of his agency’s tactics and techniques.

“It doesn’t do us any good to villainize either side of this argument,” he said. “Reasonable people can come to different conclusions about what is appropriate and not appropriate.”

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NSA Tapping Into Cellular Networks: Report

W. Brice McVicar is a staff writer for SiteProNews.

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