Ethical Hacking News
A new form of espionage has emerged, one that utilizes unregulated commercial data brokers to gather sensitive information about US servicemembers. A recent investigation has revealed that US defense officials have been aware of this threat since at least 2016 but have failed to take adequate action to address it. The industry poses a clear threat to national security and more needs to be done to protect the personal data of brave members of the armed forces who serve in harms' way around the world.
Unregulated commercial data brokers are selling location data collected from thousands of US servicemembers, including device usage patterns and sensitive infrastructure information. The Department of Defense has been aware of this threat since at least 2016 but failed to take adequate action to address it. US intelligence agencies have purchased sensitive personal data from commercial data brokers, which could be used for blackmail and other forms of harassment. The Federal Trade Commission is planning to file lawsuits to formally recognize US military installations as protected sites, marking a significant step forward in shielding consumers from harmful surveillance practices.
The United States military maintains a force of at least 35,000 troops in Germany, where the threat of foreign espionage and manipulation has long been a concern. However, it appears that a new and insidious form of espionage has emerged, one that utilizes unregulated commercial data brokers to gather sensitive information about US servicemembers and their activities.
A recent investigation by BR and Netzpolitik.org has revealed that data brokers are selling location data collected from thousands of brave members of the armed forces who serve in harms' way around the world. This data includes not only location coordinates but also details on device usage patterns, daily routines, and even information about sensitive infrastructure such as nuclear weapons storage facilities.
The source of this data is unregulated commercial brokers, which have become a multibillion-dollar industry. These companies collect data from various sources, including smartphones, connected cars, web tracking, and even location tracking devices embedded in apps. They then analyze the data, repackage it, and sell it to governments, private companies, and other entities.
The investigation has revealed that US defense officials have been aware of this threat since at least 2016, when Mike Yeagley, a government contractor and technologist, delivered a briefing to senior military officials about the issue. Yeagley's presentation aimed to show how commercially available mobile data could be weaponized for pattern of life analysis, a tactic used by adversaries to gather information on targets.
However, despite this warning, the Department of Defense has failed to take adequate action to address the threat. In fact, it appears that the DOD is still unaware of the full extent of the problem. When asked about the issue, defense officials acknowledged that commercial surveillance poses a clear threat to national security but claimed that they were unable to provide specific details on how the data was being used or who had access to it.
The investigation has also revealed that US intelligence agencies have purchased sensitive and intimate information about US citizens from commercial data brokers. This includes location data, phone records, and even personal identifiable information such as dates of birth and addresses. The government has acknowledged that this data could be used by foreign governments to facilitate blackmail, stalking, harassment, and public shaming.
Experts warn that the unregulated data broker industry poses a clear threat to national security. Ron Wyden, a US senator from Oregon with more than 20 years overseeing intelligence work, says that it is outrageous that American data brokers are selling location data collected from thousands of brave members of the armed forces who serve in harms' way around the world.
Wyden approached the US Defense Department in September after initial reporting by BR and netzpolitik.org raised concerns about the tracking of potential US service members. The DOD failed to respond, despite repeated inquiries. Likewise, Wyden's office has yet to hear back from members of US president Joe Biden's National Security Council, despite repeated inquiries.
However, it appears that the Federal Trade Commission is on the verge of taking action. An FTC source confirmed that the agency is planning to file multiple lawsuits soon that will formally recognize US military installations as protected sites. This move would mark a significant step forward in shielding US consumers, including service members, from harmful surveillance practices.
In conclusion, the threat posed by unregulated commercial data brokers has become a pressing concern for national security. The investigation has revealed that US defense officials have been aware of this threat since at least 2016 but have failed to take adequate action to address it. Experts warn that the industry poses a clear threat to national security and that more needs to be done to protect the personal data of brave members of the armed forces who serve in harms' way around the world.
Related Information:
https://www.wired.com/story/phone-data-us-soldiers-spies-nuclear-germany/
https://www.cisa.gov/topics/cyber-threats-and-advisories/nation-state-cyber-actors
https://attack.mitre.org/groups/
https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0096/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Dragon_(hacking_group)
Published: Tue Nov 19 22:41:09 2024 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
