A Running List of What We Know the NSA Can Do. So Far. Friday, January 17, 2014 - 09:20 AM By Jody Avirgan : Associate Producer, The Brian Lehrer Show Share Print Email [National Security Agency (NSA)] National Security Agency (NSA) (Chris Hardie/flickr) The trove of documents leaked by Edward Snowden has revealed the elaborate tricks the NSA can use to monitor communications and data around the world. Here, a running list of things we now know the NSA can do, based on media reports and other publicly available documents -- so far. If we missed any, let us know in the comments page or by tweeting @brianlehrer. → Note: Analysis, audio, and video of Obamas Thursday NSA speech is available here. Join the Discussion [13] Recommended Links Full Transcript and Audio: Obamas NSA Speech Obama Curbs NSA Power, But Keeps Data in Government Hands For Now It can track the numbers of both parties on a phone call, as well location, time and duration. (More) It can hack Chinese phones and text messages. (More) It can set up fake internet cafes. (More) It can spy on foreign leaders cell phones. (More) It can tap underwater fiber-optic cables. (More) It can track communication within media organizations like Al Jazeera. (More) It can hack into the UN video conferencing system. (More) It can track bank transactions. (More) It can monitor text messages. (More) It can access your email, chat, and web browsing history. (More) It can map your social networks. (More) It can access your smartphone app data. (More) It is trying to get into secret networks like Tor, diverting users to less secure channels. (More) It can go undercover within embassies to have closer access to foreign networks. (More) It can set up listening posts on the roofs of buildings to monitor communications in a city. (More) It can set up a fake LinkedIn. (More) It can track the reservations at upscale hotels. (More) It can intercept the talking points for Ban Ki-moon’s meeting with Obama. (More) It can crack cellphone encryption codes. (More) It can hack computers that aren’t connected to the internet using radio waves. (Update: Clarification -- the NSA can access offline computers through radio waves on which it has already installed hidden devices.) (More) It can intercept phone calls by setting up fake base stations. (More) It can remotely access a computer by setting up a fake wireless connection. (More) It can install fake SIM cards to then control a cell phone. (More) It can fake a USB thumb drive thats actually a monitoring device. (More) It can crack all types of sophisticated computer encryption. (Update: It is trying to build this capability.) (More) It can go into online games and monitor communication. (More) It can intercept communications between aircraft and airports. (More) (Update) It can physically intercept deliveries, open packages, and make changes to devices. (More) (h/t) (Update) It can tap into the links between Google and Yahoo data centers to collect email and other data.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 02:04:30 +0000
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