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NSA planned to hack phones via Google Play store

1,535 views · Published 22 May 2015 · 1:16 · Indexed 16 October 2026

Channel: Digit · 2015 · Science & Technology

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The NSA (National Security Agency) was planning to hack the Google Play Store and Samsung app store with an app-hijacking program, according to recent reports.

The NSA app-hijacking program, dubbed IRRITANT HORN, was set up by the US as part of a joint spying unit, according to new documents revealed obtained by The Intercept and CBC News. The documents were a part of Edward Snowden's revelation and involved Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

The documents mentions that NSA planned to infect Google and Samsung platforms with malware and spyware that could lead to hacking and spying on Android smartphones. The plan was to intercept traffic before it reached servers and infect certain users' phones with malware and spyware, a type of "man-in-the-middle" attack. The malware could be used to steal sensitive information from contacts and see their real-time location at all times. The latest documents are dated from 2011 to 2012 and it's still unclear whether this plan was actually implemented or not.

Reports about NSA spying have been making the rounds for a while now. Last year, the Intercept had reported that NSA had planned a mass infection of computers with malware, affecting millions of users. Reports about NSA exploiting the heartbleed bug to gather intelligence had also surfaced last year. However the security agency had denied all allegations in an official statement. NSA also targeted the UC Browser, a popular app used to surf the internet in Asia that is used by half a billion smartphone users. The agency leaked users' phone numbers, SIM card numbers and details about the device to servers in China. This revelation has further highlighted the NSA's wanton disregard for individual privacy. Although Google and other Internet companies have been encrypting data, it seems NSA is continuously finding new ways to infect devices and spy on people.
- See more at: http://www.digit.in/internet/nsa-planned-to-hack-phones-via-google-play-store-26112.html

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