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from the put-all-your-secrets-in-one-basket dept.
'The intelligence coup of the century'
In case of paywall...
CIA Secretly Owned Crypto, the Swiss Company That Ruled Global Spy Comms for Decades, Says Report
For more than half a century, governments all over the world trusted a single company to keep the communications of their spies, soldiers and diplomats secret.
The company, Crypto AG, got its first break with a contract to build code-making machines for U.S. troops during World War II. Flush with cash, it became a dominant maker of encryption devices for decades, navigating waves of technology from mechanical gears to electronic circuits and, finally, silicon chips and software.
The Swiss firm made millions of dollars selling equipment to more than 120 countries well into the 21st century. Its clients included Iran, military juntas in Latin America, nuclear rivals India and Pakistan, and even the Vatican.
But what none of its customers ever knew was that Crypto AG was secretly owned by the CIA in a highly classified partnership with West German intelligence. These spy agencies rigged the company's devices so they could easily break the codes that countries used to send encrypted messages.
For the most goodest security, use only one commercial crypto system. Trust it with all your secrets.
(Score: 2, Informative) by fustakrakich on Wednesday February 12 2020, @01:34PM (5 children)
This is old news... [baltimoresun.com]
And we don't dare diss the CIA, NSA, FBI, not while they're on their heroic case against the president. All previous sins are forgiven
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2) by looorg on Wednesday February 12 2020, @02:21PM (3 children)
While I did enjoy the article in the WP I was also wondering why it was "news" since this is indeed quite old news and have been known about for decades. It's been mentioned in actual books that are decades old by now so it's not really a secret anymore, or have been for quite a long time, but they somehow make it sound like they are blowing the lid off something here.
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Wednesday February 12 2020, @02:53PM
It's kind of a backhanded smear against Huawei and Kapersky as being agents of their own respective governments, and for refusing to install requested backdoors. That's how the story goes anyway. It's all pure speculation.
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2) by Mojibake Tengu on Wednesday February 12 2020, @03:31PM (1 child)
The technique is old, but the incident is very new.
The Czech government is in disarray currently, in session, because they realized they have all fresh costly new military and police equipment backdoored, by Americans and Germans, completely from the street devices up to combat fighters.
Most probably, many other governments too.
The article in Washington Post is a washout to what's really happening just now.
Respect Authorities. Know your social status. Woke responsibly.
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Wednesday February 12 2020, @04:55PM
The article in Washington Post is a washout to what's really happening just now.
Yeah, just another "oil spill", though I will grant that exposing our compromised position is still a good idea. I just kinda wish that people would react.
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday February 12 2020, @05:17PM
I will agree with this, once the 'pee pee' tapes are released.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.