The loss of state secrets poses an extreme threat to national security, with spies, hackers, disloyal or negligent employees usually being behind them.
In 2017, WikiLeaks published yet another set of incriminating materials, including thousands of top-secret documents of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In the series of leaks code-named Vault7, WikiLeaks revealed information about CIA’s global covert hacking program, software designed to spy on PC and smartphone users, and malware that targets Windows and intercepts video streams. Moreover, the portal leaked a total of 70,000+ emails associated with the French presidential campaign of Emmanuel Macron.
In September 2017, news agencies came into possession of a secret anti-leak order from U.S. Presidential Administration requiring more than 50 departments and agencies to hold staff briefings on how to handle confidential information and what penalty will apply in the event of disclosure.
Military secrets attract not only spies, but also cyber criminals. Thus, North Korean hackers managed to steal a huge amount of information on secret U.S./South Korean war strategy and a plan to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Organized cybercriminal groups use various channels to pilfer information. Thus, in November 2017, hackers from China broke into the secret Indian government video chat. Previously, Global Leaks hacking group released emails of UAE ambassador to Washington, revealing that the UAE was using its influence in the U.S. to damage Qatar, with that leak immediately turning up the heat in the Persian Gulf region.
In addition, some leaks were of accidental nature. For example, Australian Federal Police accidentally tweeted a link to a Periscope broadcast of internal discussion about alleged North Korean agent’s arrest, that was viewed by about 40 people before the link was deleted.
