A recent report from The Intercept has claimed that the US National Security Agency (NSA) holds the ability to keep an eye on the cellular networks worldwide and collect relevant information of about 70 percent of world’s mobile phone networks.
A previously undiscovered NSA program, dubbed Auroragold, allows the covert American agency to exploit security vulnerabilities in cell networks across the world to spy on calls and text messages and collect the relevant information.
The Intercept report showed that the American intelligence agency has collected info through 70 percent of global cell phone networks from countries like China, Middle East and Northern Africa. Interestingly, the United States was not among the top targets of NSA’s network espionage.
The data on the program was amid the abundant files that were leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
According to The Intercept report, the Auroragold program is undergoing in full swing for the last few years. People involved with the program are continuously monitoring the communication exchange by over 1,200 e-mail accounts linked with major cell phone network companies.
The Intercept further claims that the chief among the targets is the UK-based GSM Association. Some of the largest technology and telephony firms in the world on the target are Microsoft, AT&T, Cisco, Vodafone and Samsung.
The report is the latest in a series of exposures from the documents leaked by Snowden. Last year, Snowden had provided some journalist with string of information about the NSA and its inner workings. The leaks by Snowden has triggered huge controversy about the working of NSA and also caused friction with international intelligence agencies.
Share this:
