The NSA Has the Master Key to Unlock Your Phone's Secure Messages

[Victorious Secret]

 

I guess having access to all your nudes and dirty jokes is very important to the NSA et al, who seem hellbent on having AS MANY ways of accessing your information as humanely possible. 

 

One would think they already have enough ways to get what they need, but according to this article they clearly want more and have resorted to straight up theft to get access to what they need. 

 

According to top-secret documents given to The Intercept by Edward Snowden, British and American spies stole encryption keys from the largest SIM card manufacturer in the world. This is a huge deal because it means it could be way, way easier for the NSA to conduct widespread surveillance of encrypted communications without ever asking permission or even letting on that it's doing so. 

 

With these stolen keys, the NSA and GCHQ (the British equivalent) have the ability to conduct surveillance on our phones without getting warrants or asking permission from telecom companies or foreign governments. The SIM card manufacturer, Gemalto, sells to Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and over 450 wireless carriers worldwide, so the theft gives spies a tool to unlock an untold number of encrypted communications.

 

This is bad news for pretty much anyone with a phone, since it's highly likely that your phone contains a Gemalto-manufactured SIM card, and that means any attempts on your part to encrypt communications is futile. It's also bad news for governments other than the U.S. and U.K., since these encryption keys give them an easy way to spy in foreign countries without asking permission (that they'd never get). And it's really bad news for Gemalto, since the NSA and GCHQ cyberstalked and hacked its employees to obtain the keys.

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/02/19/great-sim-heist/

http://gizmodo.com/the-nsa-has-the-master-key-to-unlock-your-phones-secure-1686825874

[Enderman]

Privacy isn't a thing any more. Sad but true.

[TheMcSame]

"Land of liberty"

[Unhelpful]

I couldn't be less surprised.

[C0LL0SS0S]

Thanks 'Murica for all the freedom, I can even feel it over here in Austria

[LancerBG]

so what? if they want to look at my boobie collection so be it. titties are the secret so a safe and secure country. 

[Kyuubixchidori]

"Land of liberty"

naw see, US citizens are 99% fine. (ish)

 

everyone else in the world needs to be worried. seems like its only US citizens that are up in arms, when in reality if you look at what the NSA does, its mostly directed and hacks foreign countries. 

 

Im surpised we havent heard more anger coming from foreign leaders. 

[hiyayhi]

Privacy isn't a thing any more. Sad but true.

It's funny how fitting this song is

 

[azurezeed]

what a legal way of doing things

[ComradeHX]

"Why would you care about what the government can see if you have nothing to hide?"

-no one, ever

[MageTank]

so what? if they want to look at my boobie collection so be it. titties are the secret so a safe and secure country. 

 

 

Sorry, but you reminded me of this song.

[Sumsar]

"Why would you care about what the government can see if you have nothing to hide?"

-no one, ever

I know lots of people who say that...

[LancerBG]

 

Sorry, but you reminded me of this song.

 

lol never heard of that song...glad you shared it 

[Paralectic]

Privacy isn't a thing any more. Sad but true.

Doesn't mean we shouldn't fight for it anymore.

Snowden motivates the outer world to do so.

[kpreg]

*takes tinfoil hat out of vault and begins to out on*

[SIGSEGV]

*sigh*

[Suika]

He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.

[s3ns3]

wait, what?

[Tonylu1595]

He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.

[Trik'Stari]

I wonder how long before "you have a problem with us spying on you" becomes "you are an enemy of the state".

 

Before you call me a tinfoil hat/neck beard,.....what was the response years ago when people like myself said "the government is spying on everyone"?

 

*minds blown*

[Leonard]

Yay!!!!! more sucky news. Snowden should release all the files he has online.....this is just ridiculous. 

 

 

I recently contacted Seagate about their view on the whole NSA HDD firmware report and i haven't heard an answer yet....yes i know they won't touch it with a wireless signal much less a 10foot pole.

[PortentousLad]

I guess as long as it catches us some "bad-guys" it's alright, right? RIGHT?

so does stolen evidence count in front of the court now?

[GeneralTheoryOfBadassery]

Also ... I don't live in us .. So I don't really care what NSA does ...

But .. What they are doing is wrong ...

Muricans ... Only a matter of time before eating pretzels and cheetos becomes a threat to national security

[dfsdfgfkjsefoiqzemnd]

Yay!!!!! more sucky news. Snowden should release all the files he has online.....this is just ridiculous.

That guy should get a statue, or even permanent residence in the White House. It would be the first time in decades that there'd be someone sincere there.

[mr moose]

So essentially if I steal documents that assist to protect me (e.g company financial reports before they are due) I am going to be charged and punished, but if the NSA do it it's fine? 

 

too many people have forgotten what the phrase "we live in a free country" means.