Edward Snowden claims that the NSA and GCHQ managed to breach its networks Gemalto, the world's largest SIM card manufacturer. With this particular hack, they gained access to the encryption keys of the cards.
The hack as we mentioned above was carried out by a team of NSA and GCHQ. The information for attack revealed by a 2010 GCHQ document.
Gemalto manufactures SIM cards for AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint and many more. In total, it manufactures cards for approximately 450 telecommunications providers worldwide.
According to leakage of Edward Snowden, τα κλεμμένα κλειδιά κρυπτογράφησης επιτρέπουν στις μυστικές υπηρεσίες την παρακολούθηση κινητών επικοινωνιών χωρίς permission from the phone companies. They also bypass the need for a warrant and intercept without leaving traces 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.
"I'm very upset and worried about what has happened," said Paul Beverly, Gemalto 's executive vice president. "What I want you to understand is what kind of impact it will have on any of our customers."
