‘Core Secrets’ Exposed_ NSA Used Undercover Agents in Foreign Companies — RT News

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To infiltrate foreign networks and gain access to sensitive

systems, the NSA has been using the tactics of physical

subversion deploying undercover agents in Chinese,

German, South Korean and possibly even American

companies, The Intercept reports.

Past reports on the National Security Agency (NSA) have typically depicted a government

organ that hacks other systems or works with private corporations to bypass their own

encryption protections, but the latest report based on files leaked by Edward Snowdensuggests the agency could be embedding operatives into foreign, as well as domestic,

commercial entities.

In a 13-page documentpublished by The Intercept,the NSA describes six different programs

that it considers to be core secrets, all of which are filed under the banner of Sentry Eagle.

The document warns that any disclosure of the secrets will cause exceptionally grave

damage to US national security and should not be done without an authorization from a

senior intelligence official.

These programs, some of which were ongoing as of 2012, are composed of the following:

Sentry Hawk:Which involves cooperation between the NSA as well as foreign and domestic

Published time: October 11, 2014 04:15

Reuters / Jason Reed

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companies to exploit computer networks.

Sentry Falcon:Which includes the defense of computer networks.

Sentry Osprey:Which involves the NSA cooperating with the CIA, FBI and Pentagon to

employ human operatives that can help give the agency access to networks.

Sentry Raven:Which describes the NSAs negotiations with American companies to weaken

their encryption in order to give the agency easier access.

Sentry Condor:Which includes offensive network attacks that can destroy or weakencomputer systems.

Sentry Owl:Which involves the NSA working with foreign companies to make their products

susceptible to NSA data gathering.

One of the biggest revelations is that under Sentry Osprey, undercover agents human

intelligence assets, or HUMINT have been embedded to help the NSA successfully conduct

signals intelligence operations (SIGINT), which involve the interception of communications

and electronic signals. Whether these agents are impersonating employees, outside

businessmen, or some other type of personnel is unknown. Foreign companies as well as

domestic companies could be targeted.

This target exploitation group labeled TAREX reportedly has a presence in South Korea,Germany, and China, with a domestic presence in Georgia, Hawaii, and Texas.

Already, the American Civil Liberties Union told The Intercept that it has had discussions with

domestic tech executives over the possibility that the NSA is physically infiltrating their

companies.

Meanwhile, the report noted that the US intelligence agency isnt the only one that would

want the data that tech companies are holding, pointing to groups in China that are

suspected to want such information just as badly.

The new documents also show that the NSA is or was cooperating significantly with foreign

companies under Sentry Owl, particularly when it comes to manufacturing products it can

easily exploit. Coverage exposing the breadth of the NSAs access to data held by American

firms has already sparked concern for the US economy tech executives recently warnedthe

AFP Photo / Credit PAUL J. Richards

Unjustified fabrication of facts:

China slams US over FBIs hacking

claims 45

NSA spying damages US economy,

may end up breaking the Internet

90

UK crime agency seeks total access

to citizens' emails, social media

content 77

Homeland Security to scan federal

computer networks without prior

authorization 9

Germany handed law-protected

private data to NSA for years

report 20

House intelligence chair wants US

to develop protocols for waging

offensive cyberwars 11




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surveillance could break the internet but now theres indication that even foreign

companies have been affected.

Not only does that make it harder for consumers to obtain protected communications

hardware, but if foreign governments are not aware that their own companies are working

with intelligence agency, former NSA cryptographer William Binney said the news could spark

backlash and investigations overseas.

For its part, the NSA declined to clarify details to The Intercept. It released a statement saying,

It should come as no surprise that NSA conducts targeted operations to counter increasinglyagile adversaries.

At the same time, the agency said it takes into account the globalization of trade, investment

and information flows, and the commitment to an open, interoperable, and secure global

Internet.

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‘Core Secrets’ Exposed_ NSA Used Undercover Agents in Foreign Companies — RT News

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