Top US spy agency hacked Pakistan's most popular mobile network, claims WikiLeaks

ISLAMABAD - Global whistleblowing organisation WikiLeaks in a damning revelation claimed US National Security Agency operators have been spying on Pakistan's most popular mobile network.

The revelation came from the same hacker group which had previously released data suggesting that the US agency may have been monitoring hundreds of IP addresses in Pakistan through a PTCL router.

On Sunday, the group released a new cache of information blowing the lid off how the US agency accessed private and public networks in Pakistan and other countries.

https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/850771032508047360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F1378909%2Fnsa-hacked-pakistani-mobile-networks-wikileaks%2F

Shadow Brokers released a tranche of encrypted finds, which are now being decrypted by security researchers around the world.

One such researcher with Twitter handle, 'x0rz' uploaded files after decryption and confirmed the archive includes evidence of NSA operators’ access inside the GSM network of Mobilink — one of the Pakistan’s most popular mobile services provider.

https://twitter.com/x0rz/status/850985375950680064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F1378909%2Fnsa-hacked-pakistani-mobile-networks-wikileaks%2F

The hacking group had initially put up its data cache for auction, but a lack of buyers forced it to release the data online.

Other targets that have so far been highlighted by security researchers include Oracle-owned Unix-based operating system and Equation Group’s ElectricSlide tool that impersonates a Chinese browser with fake Accept-Language.

The release of the latest document confirms earlier claims that US spy agencies may have gained access into Pakistani networks.

Mobilink has the highest penetration across Pakistan and its users range in millions. Recently it has been merged with Warid telecom as well, which further increased its user base.

WikiLeaks has been exposing the US agency for its widespread spying campaigns around the world but its latest disclosures related to Pakistan have aroused the suspicions of political analysts and intelligence agencies.