Categories: Breaking NewsIntelligenceLaws and regulations

A report shows that the NSA is in a search for hackers

The President of the United States of America, Barack Obama approved the law to give to NSA wider powers, what does it means for Americans?

The President of the United States of America, Barack Obama approved the law to give to NSA wider powers, where the NSA is able to spy internet traffic in search of hackers, responsible of attacks against the US.

But in practice, what does this means?

Based on documents leaked by Snowden It means that if so NSA can examine internet data without needing a warrant in their search to find malware and cyber criminals related with foreign governments.

The Justice Department permitted the spy agency to track online activities to recognize patterns related to malicious activities that the NSA could trace back to foreign state-sponsored-hackers.

It means that besides the fact that NSA can spy to trace attacks back to foreign governments, they can also spy on a specific online target, even if this target isn’t linked with malicious actives.

Brain Hale, spokesman for the office of the Director of National Intelligence said,

“Against that backdrop, it should come as no surprise that the US government gathers intelligence on foreign powers that attempt to penetrate US networks and steal the private information of US citizens and companies,” “As we’ve publicly stated, targeting overseas individuals engaging in hostile cyber activities on behalf of a foreign power is a lawful foreign intelligence purpose.”

The good news is that this week was voted a law to limit the power of the NSA and their spying program, which marked the first time since 9/11 that a law came out to restrict surveillance.

About the Author Elsio Pinto

Elsio Pinto (@high54security) is at the moment the Lead Mcafee Security Engineer at Swiss Re, but he also as knowledge in the areas of malware research, forensics, ethical hacking. He had previous experiences in major institutions being the European Parliament one of them. He is a security enthusiast and tries his best to pass his knowledge. He also owns his own blog http://high54security.blogspot.com/

Edited by Pierluigi Paganini

(Security Affairs – NSA, Surveillance)

Pierluigi Paganini

Pierluigi Paganini is member of the ENISA (European Union Agency for Network and Information Security) Threat Landscape Stakeholder Group and Cyber G7 Group, he is also a Security Evangelist, Security Analyst and Freelance Writer. Editor-in-Chief at "Cyber Defense Magazine", Pierluigi is a cyber security expert with over 20 years experience in the field, he is Certified Ethical Hacker at EC Council in London. The passion for writing and a strong belief that security is founded on sharing and awareness led Pierluigi to find the security blog "Security Affairs" recently named a Top National Security Resource for US. Pierluigi is a member of the "The Hacker News" team and he is a writer for some major publications in the field such as Cyber War Zone, ICTTF, Infosec Island, Infosec Institute, The Hacker News Magazine and for many other Security magazines. Author of the Books "The Deep Dark Web" and “Digital Virtual Currency and Bitcoin”.