National Security Agency hacked, Snowden points to Russia

PARIS: The exposure of malicious software purportedly linked to the National Security Agency is likely a message from Moscow, former intelligence worker Edward Snowden

PARIS: The exposure of malicious software purportedly linked to the National Security Agency is likely a message from Moscow, former intelligence worker Edward Snowden has said , adding a layer of intrigue to a leak that has set the information security world abuzz.

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Technical experts have been picking apart a suite of tools allegedly stolen from the Equation Group , a powerful squad of hackers which some have tied to the NSA.

The tools materialised as part of an internet electronic auction set up by a group calling itself “Shadow Brokers,” which has promised to leak more data to whoever puts in a winning bid.

In a series of messages posted to Twitter, Snowden on Tuesday suggested the leak was the fruit of a Russian attack on an NSA-controlled server and could be aimed at heading off US retaliation over allegations that the Kremlin is interfering in the US electoral process. “Circumstantial evidence and conventional wisdom indicates Russian responsibility,” Snowden said. “This leak is likely a warning that someone can prove US responsibility for any attacks that originated from this malware server. That could have significant foreign policy consequences. Particularly if any of those operations targeted US allies. Particularly if any of those operations targeted elections.”

Allegations of Russian subversion have been debated following the hack of the Democratic National Committee, an operation that several outside experts have blamed on Russia. Russian officials have dismissed the claims as paranoid or ridiculous, so the message delivered by Snowden — who resides at an undisclosed location in Moscow under the protection of the Russian government — struck many as significant.

Academic Thomas Rid, whose book “Rise of the Machines” traces the earliest known Kremlin-linked computer hacking campaign in the US, said Snowden’s declaration would likely be interpreted as “shrewd messaging” from Russian intelligence.