Vault 7: WikiLeaks Reveals how the CIA hacks your Apple, Android device and Smart TV to pry on you

 Wikileaks this week released 8,000 pages of documents that exposed, detailing numerous activities that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) uses in hacking into devices from Apple, Microsoft, Google, Samsung smart TV and other connected devices to spy on users. This leak is considered to be the biggest ever leak on the CIA agency.

  The documents released by the organisation, dubbed "Vault 7"revealed how the CIA has been secretly hacking into the private sectors, Internet technology giants, leaders around the world and even unsuspecting users on the iPhone, Android, Windows and Linux computers.

Also Read: Anonymous Hackers declares open war on Donald Trump, Dumps White House direct  phone line on the web

  Wikileaks also revealed that the ability of the CIA to un-encrypt these devices also allowed them to compromise private messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Weibo, and Signal. 
 The leaks also revealed that the CIA developed several tools and malware. An example of such is the "weeping Angel", a tool that turns a Smart TV into a listening device. Code names like "Brutal Kangaroo" were used for a system that hides data images, "Hammer Drill" infects software distributed on CDs or DVDs. Some other malware code name made reference to Pokemon.

 The released documents also exposed a large CIA hacking operation covertly based in the US consulate in Frankfurt. This covert hacking team, according to Wikileaks covers Europe, Africa and the Middle East.  

Ed Mcandrew, a former Federal Cybercrime prosecutor said it was a very good thing that Wikileaks came across this information, for if any group other than Wikileaks had access these tools, that would have left everybody vulnerable.

 "Once this stuff is released into the wild of the internet, there's no getting it back,"McAndrew said, its pretty stunning, if legitimate that this type of trove could be stolen and disseminated."

Also Read: Hackers infects Hotel Lock system with malware, Locks up hundreds of guests

  In a released statement, Apple has come to say that most issues described in the documents released by wikileaks had been addressed.

"While our initial analysis indicates that many of the issues leaked today were already patched in the latest iOS, we will continue to rapidly address any identified vulnerabilities," Apple said. "We always urge customers to download the latest iOS to make sure they have the most recent security updates."

Microsoft and Samsung said they are currently investigating the matter while Google and LG declined to comment on Wikileaks claims.