Samsung is definitely dealing with a lot of issues lately. And the latest news are not great for the famous company, either. So, some new documents released by WikiLeaks indicated that Samsung’s TVs can be used by the CIA to spy on users.
The documents claim that the CIA created a program named Weeping Angel, which uses a television’s microphone to get and transmit information even when the device seems to be switched off. Samsung was not the only company named in WikiLeaks, as Apple and Google were also mentioned.
So, the WikiLeaks claimed that the CIA collaborated with MI5 and BTSS in order to create a program that turned Samsung’s TVS into listening devices. The devices allegedly could record and transmit information to a CIA server. When it comes to Apple devices, CIA hackers developed tools to access iPhones, but they also created tools for phones based on Google’s Android system.
Samsung expressed its interest in protecting the privacy of its customers, as well as the security of its devices and claimed that it was urgently looking into the claims. “Protecting consumers’ privacy and the security of our devices is a top priority at Samsung,” the company stated in an email according to Bloomberg.
The CIA on the other hand, refused to comment on the report. “We do not comment on the authenticity or content of purported intelligence documents,” the CIA stated. Apple stated that the technology on which its devices are based represents the best data security available to consumers. “Our products and software are designed to quickly get security updates into the hands of our customers, with nearly 80% of users running the latest version of our operating system,” Apple’s statement said.
“While our initial analysis indicates that many of the issues leaked today were already patched in the latest iOS, we will continue work to rapidly address any identified vulnerabilities,” it added. On the other hand, Google, who has also been targeted, refused to comment on the allegations. Without a doubt, these claims are not making any good to the image of the three companies.
