Technology
Updated : Mar 11, 2018, 05:52 AM IST
The UK’s spy agency GCHQ reportedly doctored websites including LinkedIn to snoop-on various target companies
The technique, called as ‘Quantum Insert’, was used by the agency to secretly install surveillance software on the target computers
According to the Independent, the claims come amidst the disclosures made by US’ NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden who leaked highly classified data about the nation’s secret mass surveillance programmes
German magazine, Der Spiegel said that GCHQ used ‘manipulated copies’ of web pages put online by LinkedIn to gain access to the computers of suspects it was targeting and successfully infiltrated the computers of staff employed by the Belgian telecommunications company, Belgacom and Mach
A LinkedIn spokesman said that they were never told about the alleged activity and the company would never approve of it, irrespective of what purpose it was used for
A Mach spokesman said that they have launched an ‘immediate security test’ following the claims
Another target has been identified as Opec, who’s nine employee computers were found to be bugged
The report said that GCHQ and its US counterpart, the National Security Agency are said to be partners in the alleged spy programmes.