| Voice of America | - |
According
to news reports, the U.S. government's electronic spy agency has
developed technology to penetrate targeted computers, even if they are
not connected to the Internet.
News / Science & Technology
NSA Can Access Computers Not Connected to Internet
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January 15, 2014
According to news reports, the U.S. government's electronic spy agency
has developed technology to penetrate targeted computers, even if they
are not connected to the Internet.
The New York Times says for at least five years the National Security Agency has been secretly implanting tiny electronic circuits capable of transmitting data on covert radio channels.
Briefcase-sized relay stations can pick up those signals kilometers away and transmit them to the spy agency's headquarters.
According to the reports, the new technology solved the problem of accessing computers that U.S. adversaries tried to make impenetrable.
Sometimes the circuits were hidden in cables used for connecting computers to peripheral devices, such as keyboards or speakers. The hardware was mostly implanted by U.S. spies, but sometimes by manufacturers or unwitting users.
The spying hardware and software can stay active for years without being detected. It can be turned on or off remotely, acting as digital sleeper cells' to be activated as needed.
Government and military agencies around the world, as well as private companies, employ computer software called firewalls' to prevent unauthorized access. But all spy agencies try to develop software that can breach those walls.
The German newsmagazine Der Spiegel says it had access to a 50-page NSA document listing software that can survive reboots and upgrades in targeted computers, securing permanent access to their networks.
According to Der Spiegel, many of those weapons are remotely installable over the Internet while others require direct access to the device.
The New York Times says for at least five years the National Security Agency has been secretly implanting tiny electronic circuits capable of transmitting data on covert radio channels.
Briefcase-sized relay stations can pick up those signals kilometers away and transmit them to the spy agency's headquarters.
According to the reports, the new technology solved the problem of accessing computers that U.S. adversaries tried to make impenetrable.
Sometimes the circuits were hidden in cables used for connecting computers to peripheral devices, such as keyboards or speakers. The hardware was mostly implanted by U.S. spies, but sometimes by manufacturers or unwitting users.
The spying hardware and software can stay active for years without being detected. It can be turned on or off remotely, acting as digital sleeper cells' to be activated as needed.
Government and military agencies around the world, as well as private companies, employ computer software called firewalls' to prevent unauthorized access. But all spy agencies try to develop software that can breach those walls.
The German newsmagazine Der Spiegel says it had access to a 50-page NSA document listing software that can survive reboots and upgrades in targeted computers, securing permanent access to their networks.
According to Der Spiegel, many of those weapons are remotely installable over the Internet while others require direct access to the device.
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NSA Can Access Computers Not Connected to Internet
This makes a good argument for turning your computer off when not using it. In the past many people just made sure their browser was offline to protect against home invasion of their computers. Now, people will know to actually turn their computers off when not using them. This actually could save an Amazing amount of electricity in the U.S. So, on just a power level this might be a good thing.
I personally worry less about the U.S. looking inside U.S. computers than I do other nations like Russia and China as well as criminals around the world. If NSA can do this other nations can to and so can criminals now or relatively soon. So, maybe turning off your computer when not using it will save power and protect your information more inside your computer.
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If the U.S. Government, Russia, China and World Internet Criminals can all do this it makes a very good argument for permanently ending the Internet. Because this means that what the U.S. just experienced at Target with up to 110 million atms, credit cards and identity thefts could also be experienced through every offline computer in a home or business now as well.
Or, it could also make the argument for stopping using all computers for some things in some businesses or personal use worldwide and returning to the old ways of the 1950s and before.
Anyway you look at this this is a threat not only to U.S. citizens but to all mankind from all nations to all nations and from all criminals towards all people who own any kind of computer or smartphone on earth.
If the U.S. Government, Russia, China and World Internet Criminals can all do this it makes a very good argument for permanently ending the Internet. Because this means that what the U.S. just experienced at Target with up to 110 million atms, credit cards and identity thefts could also be experienced through every offline computer in a home or business now as well.
Or, it could also make the argument for stopping using all computers for some things in some businesses or personal use worldwide and returning to the old ways of the 1950s and before.
Anyway you look at this this is a threat not only to U.S. citizens but to all mankind from all nations to all nations and from all criminals towards all people who own any kind of computer or smartphone on earth.
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