N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers

The New York Times ^ | January 14, 2014 | DAVID E. SANGER and THOM SHANKER

[John W]

WASHINGTON — The National Security Agency has implanted software in nearly 100,000 computers around the world that allows the United States to conduct surveillance on those machines and can also create a digital highway for launching cyberattacks.

While most of the software is inserted by gaining access to computer networks, the N.S.A. has increasingly made use of a secret technology that enables it to enter and alter data in computers even if they are not connected to the Internet, according to N.S.A. documents, computer experts and American officials.

The technology, which has been used by the agency since at least 2008, relies on a covert channel of radio waves that can be transmitted from tiny circuit boards and USB cards inserted surreptitiously into the computers.

[Bobalu]

Exactly, and I am glad when our intelligence services target foreign nationals, who are up to no good, with this sort of technique.

What is infuriating is that they seem to have turned their talents on US citizens, in dragnet data gathering schemes. :-(

I’m OK with targeting US citizens if a warrant is issued...but not a blanket warrant to monitor everyone...that’s blatantly unconstitutional.

[Graewoulf]

Hmmmmmmm - - - - - ?

I need to buy more Aluminum Foil for my hats, and guess I’d better start wearing them in my house too, when Im on FR.

Do streamers or sheets work best in safe rooms in the house?

How about an Aluminum foil hood right over my computer?

Wonder what Alcoa stock will be by November, 2014?

[basil]

Ping!

[Nowhere Man]

I remember this discussion going as far back as the 1970’s at least where computers can “broadcast” data through its bus via the RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) they put out. I think back in the 1950’s, someone did something similar where they were able to program the computer to “play music” on a nearby transistor radio by manipulating the RFI it puts out. They did something similar in the 1970’s I think either using an old TRS-80 or an Altair 8800.

[Nowhere Man]

I remember this discussion going as far back as the 1970’s at least where computers can “broadcast” data through its bus via the RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) they put out. I think back in the 1950’s, someone did something similar where they were able to program the computer to “play music” on a nearby transistor radio by manipulating the RFI it puts out. They did something similar in the 1970’s I think either using an old TRS-80 or an Altair 8800.

[Nowhere Man]

If Nixon were in power, they would be screaming to high heaven.

Yeah, with what went on in the Clinton era and now with Obongo, Nixon is owed an apology.

[Girlene]

Exactly. We are the enemy now...and need to stay informed.

[gunsequalfreedom]

For a whole lot less money they could just look under the keyboard where everybody saves a copy of their password.

[Ramius]

Except... Are there any U.S. Citizens being targeted without a warrant? Who are they?

[Pilsner]

Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that get you past all the technological roadblocks in your path.

In the 1950s the British Diplomatic Service had a code that the Soviets could not crack. The Brits had just cracked the German's Enigma machines, and understood code breaking very well indeed, and they used that experience to build an encryption system the Soviets could not defeat.

So the Soviets planted a microphone in the code room of the British Embassy, and just listened in while one Brit read the clear text of outgoing messages to the guy operating the cipher machine, or while the guy operating the cipher machine read the clear text of incoming messages to the guy who wrote the message down...

[sauron]

Null, that was a fantastic pic.

Kudos.

[WhiskeyX]

Military COMSEC (Communications Security) briefings in the 1970s typically cited how Soviet ELINT (Electronics Intelligence) fishing trawlers operating off American coasts, such as an office in Washington D.C., intercepted RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) emissions from Teletype KSR (Keyboard Send/Receive) printers and computer CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors and used it to reproduce the characters displayed on the devices. The response was to use TEMPEST rated equipment to secure such communications. It was also stressed that there was no such thing as a private or secure telephone call. During Second World War the German intelligence services broke the Allied secure telephone systems to listen in on the conversations between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill.

[Praxeologue]

"“We do not use foreign intelligence capabilities to steal the trade secrets of foreign companies on behalf of — or give intelligence we collect to — U.S. companies to enhance their international competitiveness or increase their bottom line.”

That is not true.

[Right Wing Assault]

My computer is older than dirt, so it was probably clean until NSA came to my house.

[Candor7]

SNOWDON.........ARE YOU IN THERE??/S

[momincombatboots]

Thanks for the article. The NSA has truly exceeded their legal and moral limits. I am very interested in how this works... something to pass the time with I suppose. I guess it’s even on my lovely IPadAir as well? Corporate cronyism sellouts! It didn’t say how far this signal will transmit.

[GOPJ]

Good point. Our best minds created stuff to fight terrorists of 9/11. Little did we know the technology would be turned against us...

I'll bet "homeland security' still attempts to sell techies on helping using the 'radical muslim' line - while knowing their real target is conservative American citizens.

[GOPJ]

It's simple and clever, because one normally blocks existing pathways from their computer to the outside world. You can turn off wi-fi, blue-tooth, shut ports to your ethernet connections, etc. But an innocuous electronic device you're not aware of, that is connected to your data bus and transmitting on a separate radio band is genius. No hacking of software to bypass firewalls or routers. People often run virus-scans, disconnect physically from outside connections, but I bet they don't figure on a hidden radio signal in their computer. I dislike what the NSA is doing when it comes to spying on ordinary Americans, but I can still admire cleverness.

You're right - simple and clever... thanks for sharing.

[MeshugeMikey]

wow amazing.

Thanks

Ill take delivery of my next machine at the local Mac Store

[Grampa Dave]

“Surely the NYT has more secrets they can release.”

Bingo.

Since the 1960’s, the NY Slimes and the Compost have been at the front line exposing any intel our country does outside of America.

Probably 100% or maybe 99.97% of the time, these devices were put on or in computers sold for use outside of the USA or into/on computers outside the USA.

This is a big heads up for enemies/potential enemies of America.