NSA Spies On Smartphone Data

Google recently updated its blog post on NSA spying via smartphone data. The U.S. Department of Justice contends that U.S. law does not allow it to share information about some national security requests that is received. Google’s blog highlights that specifically, the U.S. government argues that they cannot share information about the requests received (if any) under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

National Security Agency

The U.S. Department of Justice earlier this year, brought a federal case to assert that they do indeed have the right to shine more light on the FISA process. Google had recently wrote a letter of support (PDF) for two pieces of legislation currently proposed in the U.S. Congress. Google is asking governments around the world to uphold international legal agreements that respect the laws of different countries and guarantee standards for due process.

Consumer adoption has made Android devices more prone as a target for security threats. Android’s open application model or Android open source has contributed to the increase of security risk for users. Organizations are faced with data protection challenges. Higher security measures are being implemented to avoid such risks.

The United States' National Security Agency intelligence-gathering operation is capable of accessing user data from smart phones from all leading manufacturers. Google's Android mobile operating system is included. The NSA can even access the most sensitive data on Android and other mobile devices. A lot of the data accessed and targeted is conducted without companies knowing.

*Google Blog

The Washington Post reported that the NSA installed an estimated 20,000 ‘implants’ as early as 2008. The NSA declined to comment on any allegations while the NSA government spokesperson stated any disclosure of classified material is harmful to national security.

NSA infected more than 50,000 computer networks worldwide that had been affected with malicious software which was created for obtaining sensitive information. Former NSA-employee Edward Snowden provided such documentation of the infiltration of computer systems achieved by installing malware, malicious software.