CIA Targets Your Phone, TV, Listening To Whatsapp, Says Wikileaks

Windows, Android, iOS, OSX and Linux computers as well as Internet routers are within easy reach of world-renowned global spymaster, the CIA, Wikileaks has alleged.

The CIA in its hacking tools to eavesdrop even on your chat devices such as Whatsapp, Signal, Telegram and Weibo deploys some cyber weapons such as Malware.

In collusion, the UK’s MI5 agency is said to have helped build a spyware attack for Samsung TVs.

A spokesman for the CIA would not confirm the details.

“We do not comment on the authenticity or content of purported intelligence documents,” he said.

A spokesman for the UK Home Office was unable to comment.

Wikileaks said that its source had shared the details with it to prompt a debate into whether the CIA’s hacking capabilities had exceeded its mandated powers.

Hacked TVs:

The effort to compromise Samsung’s F8000 range of smart TVs was codenamed Weeping Angel.

Wikileaks also claims that as of last year, the CIA has built up an arsenal of 24 Android “zero days” – the term given to previously unknown security flaws in code.

Some of these are said to have been discovered by The CIA allegedly discovered some of these devices, but others were allegedly obtained from the UK’s GCHQ agency as well as the NSA and unnamed third parties.

Devices made by Samsung, HTC and Sony, among others, were said to have been compromised as a result, allowing the CIA to read messages on Whatsapp, Signal, Telegram and Weibo among other chat services.

It is also claimed that a specialized CIA unit was set up to target iPhones and iPads, allowing the agency to see a target’s location, activate their device’s camera and microphone, and read text communications.

The unit is also reported to have made use of further iOS “zero days” obtained from GCHQ, the NSA and FBI.

“It is longstanding policy that we do not comment on intelligence matters,” GCHQ told the BBC.

“Furthermore, all of GCHQ’s work is carried out in accordance with a strict legal and policy framework, which ensures that our activities are authorized, necessary and proportionate.”

Other claims say the CIA:

  • was trying to find ways to infect vehicles’ computer control systems. Wikileaks claims these might have been used for undetectable assassinations
  • had found ways to infect “air-gapped” computers – machines that are not linked up to the internet or other insecure networks. Methods are said to have included hiding data in images or hidden parts of computer storage
  • had developed attacks against popular anti-virus products.  BBC

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