NSA posed as Facebook to infect computers with malware

[Giselle]

The National Security Agency has reportedly used automated systems to infect user computers with malware since 2010, according to a Wednesday report. And at times the agency pretended to be Facebook to install its malware.

The NSA has been using a program codenamed TURBINE to contaminate computers and networks with malware "implants" capable of spying on users, according to The Intercept, which cited documents provided by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Between 85,000 and 100,000 of these implants have been deployed worldwide thus far, the report said.

To infect computers with malware, the NSA has relied on various tactics, including posing as Facebook.

The federal agency performed what is known as a "man-on-the-side" attack in which it tricked users computers into thinking that they were accessing real Facebook servers. Once the user had been fooled, the NSA hacked into the user's computer and extracted data from their hard drive.

Facebook said it had no knowledge of the NSA"s TURBINE program, according to the National Journal. However, the social network said it is no longer possible for the NSA or hackers to attack users that way, but Facebook warned that other websites and social networks may still be vulnerable to those types of attacks.

"This method of network level disruption does not work for traffic carried over HTTPS, which Facebook finished integrating by default last year," Facebook told the National Journal. "If government agencies indeed have privileged access to network service providers, any site running only HTTP could conceivably have its traffic misdirected."

Other ways the NSA infects malware onto computers include sending out spam emails.

The NSA is capable of installing different kinds of malware, each capable of performing different tasks. According to the report, certain malware can:

• Use a computer's microphone to record audio
• Use a computer's webcam to take photos
• Record a computer's Internet browsing history
• Record login details and passwords use for Web services
• Log users' keystrokes
• Extract data from flash drives when they are plugged into infected computers
• Block users from accessing certain websites
• Corrupt files that computers attempt to download

When the NSA first began infecting computers with malware in 2004, it would do so manually, according to the report. At that time, only between 100 and 150 implants had been deployed.

http://www.latimes.com/business/tec...alware-20140312,0,3491724.story#ixzz2vrXYFdva

 

[DEAD7]

Big govt. is gonna big govt.

 

[Orbital-Fetus]

the internet is a blessing and a curse.

 

[Dooby]

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/03...k-in-its-effort-to-infect-millions-computers/

This article is basically outlining the methods the NSA uses to gather information. Any other non US governmental agency or entity doing this would be said to be infringing a plethora of rights! How are we allowing this to happen? Where is the outrage? They are HACKING and SABOTAGING computers. They have the capabilities to control computers, eavesdrop or spy on people through microphones and cameras and shut down computers remotely!

So why aren't you at all disgusted by this blatant violation of your privacy through dirty tactics!

 

[Mr. Somebody]

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/03...k-in-its-effort-to-infect-millions-computers/

This article is basically outlining the methods the NSA uses to gather information. Any other non US governmental agency or entity doing this would be said to be infringing a plethora of rights! How are we allowing this to happen? Where is the outrage? They are HACKING and SABOTAGING computers. They have the capabilities to control computers, eavesdrop or spy on people through microphones and cameras and shut down computers remotely!

So why aren't you at all disgusted by this blatant violation of your privacy through dirty tactics!

I feel powerless, how can we stop it?

 

[Donald J Trump]

Scared they're gonna hack and find your porn stash I see :plo:

 

[Dooby]

I feel powerless, how can we stop it?

That's exactly how I feel in this situation. Powerless and unsure how to stop them from continuing their activities. I am asking anyone here that may have a clue what can we, the people, do?

 

[Matt504]

powerless, and at this point I've fully accepted it, I've known about a lot of this stuff long before Snowden released any documents, back when it was "just a conspiracy".

I just tread carefully on the internet and stay away from certain websites.

most people are so addicted to the internet at this point that they'd much rather pretend the NSA doesn't exist, and if they do acknowledge the NSA, they convince themselves "the NSA ain't worried about me anyway"

 

[DEAD7]

Its part of the cost the majority has agreed to pay

 

[USSInsiders]

Be outraged about something the government has done for decades brehs

Ok, so make another false outrage

 

[DEAD7]

Be outraged about something the government has done for decades brehs

Ok, so make another false outrage

Do a wrong for long enough and niqqas will cosign it.

 

[USSInsiders]

Do a wrong for long enough and niqqas will cosign it.

Ok, so make another country

 

[Black Hans]

They've been doing this for years, though. I guess they get points for admitting it?

 

[DEAD7]

Ok, so make another country

 

[Matt504]

They've been doing this for years, though. I guess they get points for admitting it?

they really didn't have much of a choice after "millions" of documents were stolen by Snowden.