Front page in Belgium: NSA very likely hacked (majority state owned) telecom operator Belgacom

[BelgianMadCow]

Both De Morgen and De Standaard this morning carry the following news (summary mine, links in dutch)

After the disclosures in June by Snowden, Belgacom (historically the state telco monopoly, and still the market leader) decided to investigate potential security breaches.
They found very sophisticated malware has been running for two years on their servers. The logistical and financial effort involved points to state-sponsored cyber espionage. The malware was mainly focused on Bics, a Belgacom subsidiary that manages worldwide phone traffic and is active in Africa and the Middle East. From the MO, and the countries they found targeted (Syria and Yemen, among others), all the evidence points to the USA/NSA. De Standaard says "a big belgian chapter has been added to the ongoing spying revelations".

Given that the state is the majority shareholder, this is also politically very sensitive, a statement by the PM will follow.

On edit: Statement by PMs office says "If the hypothesis of a state actor involved at high level is confirmed, we consider this break-in and breach of integrity very serious and will take appropriate steps". TV news said "it could damage US-Belgium relationship". Meanwhile, clients data has not been compromised, Belgacom was quick to say.
--------------------------

So this is when NSA spying hits home for Belgians, and belgian companies. I'm "glad" I won't be the odd one out being concerned about it anymore.

[cantbeserious]

1. Demonstrates How Out Of Control The US Intelligence Portion Of The MIC Truly Is

eom

[nashville_brook]

2. k and r

[BelgianMadCow]

3. Update: Green fraction in parliament says US-EU trade agreement should be called off

if it's proven the US was behind this. Link (dutch). Not that that's gonna happen, they are in the opposition.

They're referring to the Transatlantic Trade & Investement Partnership, the TPP - sister. At least that means it's on the radar of some people, that's encouraging.

[BelgianMadCow]

4. More political reactions are in:

and, a bit to my surprise, all sound more or less the same: if this is confirmed (judicial investigation ongoing), then a strong response is necessary. This can not stay without consequences, one vice-PM said.

[War Horse]

5. If found true, I wouldn't be too surprised

Not aware of any specific NSA activity here in Norway, but the CIA (trying to get at Mulla Krekar and intercepted by the police, for example - or as he's sometimes called here, 'Mulla Kreket' - Mulla the creep) and whichever alphabet agency it was that recruited retired Norwegian cops to spy on Norwegian citizens (admitted by the U.S. embassy when pushed by the press) have been none too shy.

Not sure what this says abt. domestic U.S. spying, though. The talking point is that non-U.S. citizens are basically fair game while U.S. citizens (in the U.S.) are much more strongly protected. But who knows.

[BelgianMadCow]

8. "The talking point is that non-U.S. citizens are basically fair game"

Yes, the way the US government defends all the iffy stuff they do by saying "but we don't do it to our own citizens" makes me sick.

It's been confirmed now, also Belgacom knew for over a year but didn't speak up. The confirmation comes from sources close to the investigation, but formally the government is gonna wait for the end result. I'm betting we'll end up with a stern letter.

[BelgianMadCow]

6. English-language link (RT)

National phone operator Belgacom filed a complaint in July, saying several of its servers and computers were hacked, Belgian Federal prosecutors announced on Monday.

"The inquiry has shown that the hacking was only possible by an intruder with significant financial and logistic means," they said. "This fact, combined with the technical complexity of the hacking and the scale on which it occurred, points towards international state-sponsored cyber espionage."

The hackers used malicious software and advanced encryption techniques to gather strategic information rather than sabotage Belgacom's data or cause direct economic damage, the prosecutors said.

They declined to say which foreign state they suspected, but Belgian media were quick to point fingers at America’s NSA.

http://rt.com/news/belgium-spying-telecom-company-930/

[gopiscrap]

7. God damn it this shit is so out of control!