wraggster
March 12th, 2014, 21:46
http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/adam/19cbecb196a92206849a8cd26a473826/nsa-vpn-exploit-graphic.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/12/nsa-mass-pc-surveillance-details/)
We know that the NSA has been ramping up its efforts to collect data from computers (http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/29/nsa-can-reportedly-bug-computer-equipment-before-it-sees-buyers/), but it's now clear that the intelligence agency has the tools to compromise those computers on a grand scale. Information leaked by Edward Snowden (http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/10/Snowden-encryption-and-oversight/) to The Intercept has revealed (https://firstlook.org/theintercept/article/2014/03/12/nsa-plans-infect-millions-computers-malware/) that the NSA has spent recent years automating the way it plants surveillance software. The key is Turbine, a system launched in 2010 that automatically sets up implants and simplifies fetching data; agents only have to know what information they want, rather than file locations or other app-specific details. A grid of sensors, nicknamed Turmoil, automatically spots extracted info and relays it to NSA staff. The combined platform lets the organization scrape content from "potentially millions" of PCs, instead of focusing only on the highest-priority targets.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/12/nsa-mass-pc-surveillance-details/
We know that the NSA has been ramping up its efforts to collect data from computers (http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/29/nsa-can-reportedly-bug-computer-equipment-before-it-sees-buyers/), but it's now clear that the intelligence agency has the tools to compromise those computers on a grand scale. Information leaked by Edward Snowden (http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/10/Snowden-encryption-and-oversight/) to The Intercept has revealed (https://firstlook.org/theintercept/article/2014/03/12/nsa-plans-infect-millions-computers-malware/) that the NSA has spent recent years automating the way it plants surveillance software. The key is Turbine, a system launched in 2010 that automatically sets up implants and simplifies fetching data; agents only have to know what information they want, rather than file locations or other app-specific details. A grid of sensors, nicknamed Turmoil, automatically spots extracted info and relays it to NSA staff. The combined platform lets the organization scrape content from "potentially millions" of PCs, instead of focusing only on the highest-priority targets.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/12/nsa-mass-pc-surveillance-details/