Tag Archives: Hackers

NSA Special Unit Targets “Tough” Hacks

The German news magazine Der Spiegel has released another story based on documents from fugitive NSA leaker Edward Snowden claiming the National Security Agency has a unit dedicated to hacking “tough” systems.

Systems like the Microsoft automatic software reporting system installed on every Windows based computer in the world.

The division is called Tailored Access Operations or TAO.  The team is described as “an elite team of hackers” that specialize in stealing data from targets that the NSA defines as the toughest to crack.

The TAO’s mission was “Getting the Ungettable.”

The group reportedly had “James Bond-like” equipment to complete missions such as computer monitor cables that would record anything typed on a screen, USB sticks with micro radio transmitters and fake base stations that would intercept mobile phone signals.

Microsoft said they do not supply information to intelligence sources and did not comment on the leaked document’s claim the NSA hacked the company’s reporting system.

Identity Thieves Strike Target Stores

The weekend after Thanksgiving was big for more than just most of the nation’s retailers.

Retail chain Target reportedly was hit by a massive identity theft attack where as many as 40 million credit and debit card accounts could have had their information taken by hackers.

Target released a statement saying that customers who used credit or debit cards between November 27th and December 15th could have compromised accounts.  Information stolen included customer names, credit and debit card numbers, expiration dates and even the three digit security code included on the back of the card.

Target did not release information about how the hackers cracked their system which reportedly included installing software on card readers.  The company assured customers the problem has been fixed.

The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the theft because it involves currency transactions.