© Reuters
Originally appeared at RT
The FBI “secretly arrested” a National Security Agency contractor on suspicion of stealing and revealing malware used to hack foreign governments, the New York Times reported citing federal intelligence and law enforcement officials.
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden confirmed the existence of the malware, leaked in August. Portions of the classified computer codes used by the NSA were posted online in August, with hacking group “ShadowBrokers” offering the full program up for sale. NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden confirmed the software was authentic. US officials blamed the hack on Russia.
Contractor is called Hal Martin, a Navy veteran, his attorney confirms. First appeared in court in late August. Charges to be unsealed soon. https://t.co/g40YOLsVCH
— Ian Duncan (@iduncan) October 5, 2016
The contractor’s name is Hal Martin, and he is a Navy veteran, said the Baltimore Sun reporter Ian Duncan citing the man’s attorney. Martin worked for Booz Allan Hamilton, the same company that used to employ Snowden, before he blew the lid on NSA operations in 2013.
So Booz got repawned four months after Snowden’s leaks?
Maybe, um, take cyberattacks in-house? pic.twitter.com/3FrpMcgGjo
— emptywheel (@emptywheel) October 5, 2016
This is huge. Did the FBI secretly arrest the person behind the reports NSA sat on huge flaws in US products? https://t.co/otgOwB5efm
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) October 5, 2016
