Snowden's latest leak shows how the NSA subverts cellphone security by spying on telecommunications companies. The Intercept.

A leaked map showing what percentage of phone network the NSA has compromised. The Intercept.

The latest Edward Snowden leak details the NSA program to compromise cell phone networks, called AURORAGOLD. The Intercept. The NSA has been able to collect data on hundreds of cell phone networks by spying on the companies and employees of telecommunications companies in hundreds of countries. This technical data can be used to hack into these networks to monitor voice calls and text messages. The documents also show how the NSA introduces new security flaws into those networks so the NSA will have continued access. One of the groups being targeted is the GSM association, which works with international firms like Microsoft, Facebook and Cisco, and is being partially funded by the U.S. governments National Institute for Standards and Technology. The group works with companies to create security standards. The NSA also has almost all technical data for cell phone models and works tirelessly to crack their encryption as well. 

My Comment:

More leaks from Snowden. I thought most of what he had found had been reported on already, but apparently not. The NSA scandal has been overshadowed by more pressing foreign and domestic problems, but it is still worth talking about, especially since nothing real has been done to reign in the NSA and its "five eyes" partners. I don't know if anything will ever change but as long as the threat is out there it is very important to keep tabs on the issue. I'll keep talking about it as long as new stories keep showing up.

As for the leaks themselves, what a waste of tax dollars. Our taxes pay to help the GSM association to create better and stronger encryption, which helps tax payers. Then the NSA comes in and undo's hundreds thousands of dollars worth of work while leaving vulnerabilities for them to exploit. Not only is that a violation of privacy, and a huge waste of government money, it is putting everyone who uses those networks at risk of having their data stolen. Given the extremely private things people talk about on their phones or text about, that is a huge risk. In short, a program that is supposedly making us safer is putting us all at risk. 

As for people's reaction to this, I'm mad about it. I think everyone else is too distracted by everything else is going on in the world to pay attention...