The CIA said it’s doing what it’s supposed to when it spies on devices.
The CIA said it’s just doing its job, whether or not it has a giant arsenal of hacking tools for phones, computers and smart TVs.
After WikiLeaks released thousands of documents allegedly showing the CIA’s tools for hacking into iPhones, Android phones, computers, cars and smart TVs, the US government agency is standing its ground in the spy vs. spy face-off.
While the CIA still will not confirm or deny if the documents are authentic, it argues that hacking and gathering intelligence is exactly what it should be doing.
“It is CIA’s job to be innovative, cutting edge, and the first line of defense in protecting this country from enemies abroad,” Jonathan Liu, a CIA spokesman was quoted saying so.
The documents released with WikiLeaks’ “Vault 7” include exploits for iOS, Android and operating systems like Windows, Linux — pretty much anything with an internet connection. WikiLeaks alleged that the CIA was able to get remote access to gadgets through these vulnerabilities, allowing them to bypass encryption on messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal.
If these documents are real, it would fire up the debate between privacy and national security again with the US government and the tech sector. CNET is unable to verify whether the documents are real or have been altered.
Apple said its users should not be concerned if they have updated to the latest iOS, which patched a majority of the vulnerabilities. The CIA said Americans shouldn’t be concerned, either. The CIA boasts having top of the line hacking tools, but stressed that it is illegal for their agents to spy on American citizens. On the other hand, it’s worth noting the NSA programs can legally scoop up exchanges between Americans and foreign spy targets, or when their internet data travels outside of the US, legal experts say.
The agency went on to criticize WikiLeaks for disclosing any information that could potentially jeopardize national security, whether it’s true or not.
“Such disclosures not only jeopardize US personnel and operations, but also equip our adversaries with tools and information to do us harm,” the CIA said.
Experts believe the data leaks have harmed the US government’s relationship with the tech sector, and damaged the nation’s public trust with the CIA.
“We’re all less safe today, and we’re all more vulnerable,” Scott Vernick, a data privacy and security attorney at Fox Rothschild said. “We don’t know how it will unsettle and how it will destabilize relationships that are important to us.”
