This article comes via Bruce Schneier, and fits nicely into the Weekend Project – it is about security and has some connections to the posts we run here at Smart Thinking.
Both Clive and I have attended Bruce Schneier speaking events, and through Clive’s links with Edinburgh Napier University have also attended discussion groups where Bruce was the lead speaker – he even answered several of Clive’s questions. He has a point of view about technology that should make everyone think – even if they do not always agree with. He also has some great book titles:
Here is the article Bruce pointed us at via his security blog:
Unearthed File Reveals Huge Cold War-Era U.S. Bugging Operation Against Soviets (projectbrazen.com)
Espionage from the Cold War era – the article has some great photos and descriptions of spy equipment deployed by the US against USSR, written and researched by Zach Dorfman, who got access to “a set of declassified 1980s intelligence files from Poland’s cold war-era archives”.
In today’s world, the Holy Grail of cyber espionage is to get information stealing malware onto the smartphone of a politician, activist, journalist or just someone you disagree with. There are a variety of commercial spyware packages available, that the vendors say they will only supply to governments and authorised law enforcement agencies. This “legitimate malware” has found its way onto the smartphones of people in 10 Downing Street and the smartphone used by the Spanish Prime Minister. Among the most well-known of the cyber-weapons is Pegasus, sold by the NSO Group, Hermit from RCS Labs and Knotweed by DSIRF.
No need to embedded bugs and wires into the plaster on the walls, just get someone to walk in with a compromised smartphone.
Here are a few of the posts we have written about these types of cyber weapons and the incident they have been involved in:
No. 10 the target of spyware – Smart Thinking Solutions
Mercenary Spyware – Smart Thinking Solutions
The well-respected group, The Citizen Lab, based at the University of Toronto, have several well researched articles on cyber espionage incidents from around the world:
The Citizen Lab – University of Toronto
Apple has included some very special extra security, in the latest releases of iOS, that removes functionality in return for extra security. It is only really useful for the types of high value/high profile targets this type of cyber-espionage is aimed at:
Apple announces specialised security for high risk users – Smart Thinking Solutions
There you are the Cold War and cyber security linked together.
Tomorrow, we start on the serious cyber security…
Diana Catton MBA – by line and other articles
Further Reading
Bruce Schneier on Smart Thinking Solutions
