Edward Snowden claims that the NSA and GCHQ managed to breach the networks of Gemalto, the world's largest SIM card manufacturer. With this particular hack they gained access to the keys encryptionof cards.
The hack as we mentioned above was carried out by a team the NSA and GCHQ. Information about the attack was revealed in a 2010 GCHQ document.
Gemalto manufactures SIM cards for companies AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint and many others. In total it manufactures cards for around 450 telecommunications providers worldwide.
According to his leak Edward Snowden, stolen encryption keys enable secrets services the monitoring of mobile communications without permission by telephone companies. They also bypass the need for a warrant and intercept without leaving a trace that can be traced by wireless carriers.
Gemalto, for her part, says she did not know about the hack until it was published by Intercept.
"Είμαι πολύ αναστατωμένος και ανήσυχος, με αυτό που έχει συμβεί," δήλωσε ο Paul Beverly, εκτελεστικός αντιπρόεδρος της Gemalto. "Αυτό που θέλω να καταλάβετε είναι το τι είδους επιπτώσεις θα έχει, για οποιονδήποτε από τους πελάτες μας."
