Companies Warned Over New NSA Malware Allegations Facebook.com/storetec Storetec Services Limited @StoretecHull www.storetec.ne t Many companies will be increasingly aware of the potential threats to their electronic data security from malware and other forms of cyber attack from hackers trying to make money by underhand means, but it appears the threat also comes from US government spies. A report in the Dutch newspaper NRC has claimed the US National Security Agency (NSA) has not only been spying extensively, but has gone as far as to infect 50,000 networks with malware in order to steal information – 20,000 of them in 2008 alone.

Companies warned over new nsa malware allegations

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Companies Warned Over New NSA Malware Allegations

Facebook.com/storetec

Storetec Services Limited

@StoretecHull www.storetec.net

Many companies will be increasingly aware of the potential threats to their electronic data security from malware and other forms of cyber attack from hackers trying to make money by underhand means, but it appears the threat also comes from US government spies.

A report in the Dutch newspaper NRC has claimed the US National Security Agency (NSA) has not only been spying extensively, but has gone as far as to infect 50,000 networks with malware in order to steal information – 20,000 of them in 2008 alone.

Page 2: Companies warned over new nsa malware allegations

NRC said the form of malware used by the NSA was unlike normal versions in that it did not draw attention to itself, but could lie dormant on a system for some time before being activated to gain data.

The report is based on information released by former NSA contractor-turned-whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Blogging on the issue, computer security expert Graham Cluley commented that the revelations showed it is not just traditional cyber criminals of which firm's need to be wary.

Page 3: Companies warned over new nsa malware allegations

He said: "Even if you don’t think that your company’s data would be of interest to the NSA, GCHQ or another foreign power, it’s possible that you have a customer who is of interest to them, or are part of a supply chain that could lead to an espionage agency’s ultimate target."

Mr Cluley added this means every enterprise needs to apply the "highest diligence" when protecting their data and not assume they will never be the target for "state-sponsored espionage".

Page 4: Companies warned over new nsa malware allegations

Companies may find a good way to protect their information would be to have it stored remotely in a data centre where the latest security technology is in use.

Large organisations who hold substantial quantities of data may be among those best equipped to deal with the issue and some of them have been introducing new measures to stave off cyber attacks, wherever they may come from.

Internet giant Yahoo recently announced it was taking steps to encrypt all data produced by its users, following claims that the NSA had been spying on user information.