Documents show NSA plans for digital warfare

Edward Snowden has again released documents that provide an insight into the workings of the NSA. The documents describe how digital warfare is conducted: by disrupting public order by shutting down key computer systems.

The documents are in the hands of Der Spiegel, who has more frequently reported cases released by Snowden. According to the German magazine, it contains information about plans for digital warfare. Among other things, the NSA is said to have been looking for interns in the past who were interested in ‘breaking things’. Some of the activities mentioned are destroying network cards remotely, installing backdoors and malicious drivers. Interns were required to develop “an attacker’s mindset,” according to the documents.

The documents also show that the NSA expects cyberwarfare to become increasingly important when it comes to conflict. More recent documents show the NSA’s plans for digital warfare. There is talk of controlling or destroying important computer networks. This may include energy, communication and transport systems. The NSA speaks of ‘controlled escalation’.

The documents released by Snowden show that the NSA sees digital warfare as a major activity. Documents released in the past mainly concerned the tapping and collection of data from citizens. Incidentally, the NSA has long been accused of breaking into computer networks and deliberately sabotaging systems.

In addition to digital warfare plans, Der Spiegel also has documents detailing how the NSA is using other countries’ spying practices. One of the documents states that attackers are tracked to discover, understand and ultimately steal their methods. For example, it appears that the NSA takes botnets offline, but can also hijack them and then use them for digital warfare.

Infiltration attempts by India, China and Russia, among others, have been monitored. Incidentally, the documents also speak of the damage done by spies who targeted American networks.