In what could last the perfect storm, hackers going past times the advert of ‘Shadow Brokers’ lead maintain released a data dump that they claim to lead maintain stolen from the National Security Agency (NSA). The dump contains exploits for the pop Windows operating scheme of Microsoft. Another folder of the dump titled SWIFT evidently contains documents describing the internal construction of EastNets, a UAE-based banking concern as well as anti-money laundering organization.
Windows as well as SWIFT compromised
What Shadow Brokers lead maintain released is a serial of zero-day exploits for Windows. These type of exploits are basically vulnerabilities inwards software which are non ordinarily known. Apart from the Windows issue, it seems that NSA has tried to hack into SWIFT, a pop banking concern network that is used to post coin worldwide. The target, inwards this case, seems to lead maintain been a bureau of SWIFT that provides services to banks inwards the Middle East.
What does it all mean?
Most dwelling users should non worry near a null solar daytime exploit every bit long every bit they lead maintain sufficient precautions inwards house on their computers similar anti-virus as well as a firewall. However, this is a worrying evolution for venture as well as trouble concern users.
The hacking of SWIFT also raises serious questions near the security of global banking system inwards general. If actors both dry reason or non-state tin hit access to banking networks such every bit SWIFT, the privacy of millions of transactions has been severely compromised. RT reports:
“It’s forthwith feared that i of the world’s most secure methods of making payment orders has been irrevocably compromised alongside the NSA’s sophisticated arsenal of hacking tools forthwith freely available online.”
Reaction to the hacking news
EastNets has already released a contention strongly denying that they lead maintain been compromised.
In a release on their website they say:
“The reports of an alleged hacker-compromised EastNets Service Bureau (ENSB) network is totally faux as well as unfounded. The EastNets Network internal Security Unit has run a consummate banking concern stand upwardly for of its servers as well as institute no hacker compromise or whatever vulnerabilities.”
Engadget has quoted a Microsoft spokesperson every bit saying, “We are reviewing the study as well as volition accept the necessary actions to protect our customers.”
A broken model as well as eroded trust
It is a shame that safety agencies that are charged alongside protecting the people are using these agency to hack into fiscal networks as well as also non working alongside the Information Technology manufacture to piece vulnerabilities.
The Washington Post reported Microsoft every bit maxim that it had never been contacted past times NSA near these exploits as well as then that it could educate it.
As Alex Stamos, Chief Security Officer of Facebook has tweeted:
“Might last fourth dimension to consider a standalone defensive cyber safety agency similar France, Germany, Nippon or Korea. Current model non working.”
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