ZDNet reports that according to leaked documents that are internal communications between the Indian military, Apple, RIM and Nokia are providing backdoor access to the Indian military to monitor cellular communication.
The documents were leaked by a group of Indian hackers called The Lords of Dharmaraja. ZDNet reports that the leaked documents reveals the existence of a system known as RINOA SUR where RINOA stands for RIM, Nokia and Apple. ZDNet's Manan Kakkar isn't sure what SUR stands for.
According to some reports last year, the Indian government had threatened to shut down RIM’s services completely in the country if RIM did not offer a solution to let it intercept messages on BlackBerry service. So it looks like the smartphone vendors were arm twisted to put the RINOA SUR system in place to meet Indian government's requirement in exchange for market presence in India.
Kakkar reports:
And this is where things start to get very interesting, according to the set of documents, the RINOA SUR platform was used to spy on the USCC—the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
The documents contain snippets of emails sent by members of the USCC. Apparently, RINOA SUR platform has been declared a success and the Indian Navy has shown interest in the same.
You can checkout the snippets from some leaked documents below:
Those are serious allegations, we have already seen Carrier IQ getting into trouble for its stealth logging software on most smartphone platforms.
It will be interesting to see what Apple, RIM and Nokia have to say about it.
What do you think about Apple providing backdoor access to Indian military? Sound off in the comments.
[via ZDNet]
WTF!
Wow! Apple has just lost! Bad move o. Apple no putting this in the light. Only can be bad. Stock as well.
If this pans out true, im done with apple 4ever!!
How exactly does this constitute “news?”
Do users believe their government does not have access to their communication? Seriously?!
The educational system has failed.
actually perhaps it succeeded because people obviously think this is new.
secure communications is rarely true.
if younalready know the gov is viewing your com it doesn’t mean you know the educational system it means you have common sense.
Funny thing is that android is so rubbish they don’t even want access to those smartphones as even criminals don’t use android
Rubbish, the article includes the use of an “etc” so android and other popular devices may well be included. Furthermore, your assumption is that various guilty agencies are only interested in spying on criminals. Remember the term criminal is socially constructed and what is considered lefal today can be defined as criminal by those who make the rules.
What is astounding is the possibility of anyone on an English-speaking site finding this newsworthy or novel in any way, since the US and UK do this routinely.
Agreed..
been going for years this, not just with phones..shame ppl only realise now
Come on the governments spying on its people and other country’s this could never happen our phones are to hard to spy on we have security on our phones……next you will tell me there is tracking software on my phone……can’t believe you people……..O Wait………..please disregard this post thank you…….. o mighty powers of the world I worship you…….please tell the Apple God not to turn off my phone Thank You
Say what???
this is nothing new it is because some phones use proprietary technology to exchange messages BB ping and apple iMessage, in europe the network providers have to have black box and store for 2 years, that means every text you send and call made call received is stored for 2 years, as well as your x y co-ordinates so they can tell where your phone was at a specific time….. oh and just for your info same applies to your broadband connection, big brother is watching and believe me it only take 5 minutes to put a phone tap or internet tap on, and all the info is transferred directly to to relevant law enforcement agency…