Direct Technology Group Blog

Direct Technology Group provides professional IT Support and Network Services for Businesses around Deerfield Beach. Computer Services, Tech Support, IT Solutions and more!

The FBI Grills Suspect Who Stole More NSA Secrets Than Edward Snowden

The FBI Grills Suspect Who Stole More NSA Secrets Than Edward Snowden

Last August, a hacking tool used by the National Security Agency appeared for sale online, setting off a whirlwind of questions. How did the Shadow Brokers (the group who ran the auction) get their hands on this program? Was it stolen from the NSA itself? How much damage will its release cause? Who was responsible for the leak?

It would now seem that many of these questions are being answered as the Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to dig into the matter, uncovering the largest stash of stolen, top-secret documents in the nation’s history--much larger than the Panama Papers or Edward Snowden’s infamous whistleblowing.

The NSA contractor found in possession of the classified documents, Harold Thomas Martin III, was also arrested in August for the theft. During his tenure with the agency, Martin had the clearance level to access highly confidential data and even served on the team that originally developed the leaked hacking tool, the NSA’s Tailored Access Operations. According to another former NSA employee, the leaked tools were capable of evaluating the hacking abilities of other parties (in their case, rival nations) to better inform the host country how to protect themselves from attack.

Investigators are now focused on determining if Martin intentionally leaked the documents, sold them to support his reportedly lavish appetites, or if they were stolen from him just as he stole them from the agency. Opinions and theories are wild and varied as to possible motives for Martin to have taken the data, citing financial issues or a desire to be a hero as possible drivers.

Regardless, this all shows how critical it is to keep data out of the hands of those who don’t need access to it as a direct part of their work responsibilities. The fact that the NSA--an organization notorious for their confidentiality--is the reason we are shown this, is the pinnacle of irony.

Let’s put it this way: Do you have employees that have full access to all of your company data? Not every employee needs direct access to your company contacts, your financial data, personally identifiable information, or any other sensitive information that you wouldn’t want escaping your walls. A disgruntled employee on their way out might try to take what they can to start their own competing business or try to slander yours. It’s best to make sure employees can only access what they need to perform their duties, and that this access is audited regularly.

Need help locking down your network? Contact us at (954) 739-4700.

Understanding the Battery Life of Your Mobile Devi...
Tip of the Week: Troubleshoot Your Slow Computer L...
 

Comments

No comments made yet. Be the first to submit a comment
Guest
Already Registered? Login Here
Guest
Saturday, 23 November 2024

Captcha Image

Blog Archive

2014
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November

Mobile? Grab this Article

QR Code
Request a Consultation

Direct Technology Group strives to provide the best comprehensive IT, Computer, and Networking services to small businesses. We can handle all of your organization's technology challenges.

Contact Us
Contact Us

Learn more about what Direct Technology Group can do for your business.

1358 W Newport Center Dr
Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442

Call us: (954) 739-4700

News & Updates
Direct Technology Group is proud to announce the launch of our new website at www.directtechnologygroup.com. The goal of the new website is to make it easier for our existing clients to submit and manage support requests, and provide more information about our services for ...