N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers
nytimes.com
N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers
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Re: N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers
#2This sounds like a non-issue to me. Any person on this site could create little USB devices for stealing data. It's nothing special or new. I thought I was going to hear that they're light years beyond Tempest[1] or something. Feels good to finally hear an NSA story that doesn't depress me.
Re: N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers
#3Given that the NSA's mission is to do surveillance against foreign targets ("There is no evidence that the N.S.A. has implanted its software or used its radio frequency technology inside the United States.")...the techniques described here actually seem to be in line of what you imagine the NSA is supposed to be doing. At least it's surveillance that requires them to have a physical targeted presence, rather than just drinking from the telecommunications firehose.
Re: N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers
#4> The technology, which has been used by the agency since at least 2008, relies on a covert channel of radio waves that can be transmitted from tiny circuit boards and USB cards
Obviously if someone has physical access to a machine it can be compromised. Replace "USB Cards" with "USB WiFi stick" and you've achieved the same thing.
This is just FUD. Machines that are air-gapped from the Internet with tight physical security are as secure as ever.
Re: N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers
#5I do understand that it is now the status quo to disavow everything the NSA is, but foreign intelligence gathering is their mission and releasing these details simply doesn't help the cause of fixing the NSA's less savoury incursions.
While arguably any foreign intelligence agency of note isn't going to be caught off guard by these leaks, leaking these details does offer political ammunition to the very people who stand to gain from the expansion of the NSA's mission into civilian data gathering. It helps to make the case that the leaks aren't such a good thing after all and are compromising the intelligence gathering apparatus of the US of A. Add a bit of spin and you can quickly use this to get back to business as usual and people will actually support them as now it'll become a matter of identity instead of what it should be - a surgical exploration of a cancer afflicting a nation state.
Re: N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers
#6Transmit as far as "EIGHT Miles". Does anyone know what type of power this would take? I imagine if they used a less noisy frequency combined with sensitive receiving equipment, it would not take much. I used to play with CB radios which has a cap at 4W, with a good antenna, one could transmit 7+ miles in good situations.
Re: N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers
#7Sounds like an update to The Thing:
Re: N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers
#8I do understand that it is now the status quo to disavow everything the NSA is, but foreign intelligence gathering is their mission and releasing these details simply doesn't help the cause of fixing the NSA's less savoury incursions. While arguably any foreign intelligence agency of note isn't going to be caught off guard by these leaks, leaking these details does offer political ammunition to the very people who st…
This is what happens when you screw up at the magnitude the NSA has, EVERYTHING will be released and scrutinized for the foreseeable future. Right or wrong they made the bed they now have to sleep in.
Re: N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers
#9I do understand that it is now the status quo to disavow everything the NSA is, but foreign intelligence gathering is their mission and releasing these details simply doesn't help the cause of fixing the NSA's less savoury incursions. While arguably any foreign intelligence agency of note isn't going to be caught off guard by these leaks, leaking these details does offer political ammunition to the very people who st…
Who's to say that American intelligence gathering is on the right 'side'?
Why should members of 'foreign' countries be held to a different standard?
Re: N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers
#10Transmit as far as "EIGHT Miles". Does anyone know what type of power this would take? I imagine if they used a less noisy frequency combined with sensitive receiving equipment, it would not take much. I used to play with CB radios which has a cap at 4W, with a good antenna, one could transmit 7+ miles in good situations.
There's at least two things that limit the range of this system, compared to the CB radio you mention:
- less power available via USB
- less impressive antenna