
CIA's Use Of Swiss Encryption Firm For Spying Unlikely Isolated Case - Ex-MI6 Officer
Faizan Hashmi Published February 12, 2020 | 10:40 PM

The existence of numerous online platforms makes it very likely that situations similar to the one involving the CIA's use of a Swiss encryption company to spy on more than 120 countries for over 50 years are already happening, a retired officer of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) told Sputnik under the pseudonym Nicholas Anderson
GENOA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2020) The existence of numerous online platforms makes it very likely that situations similar to the one involving the CIA's use of a Swiss encryption company to spy on more than 120 countries for over 50 years are already happening, a retired officer of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) told Sputnik under the pseudonym Nicholas Anderson.
On Tuesday, The Washington Post newspaper and German broadcaster ZDF published a joint investigation in which they revealed that the CIA and West German intelligence (BND) secretly owned Swiss firm Crypto AG between 1970 and 1993, with the CIA remaining a secret owner until 2018, when the firm was liquidated. The identities of the Swiss firm's shareholders had been hidden from public by the laws of Liechtenstein. The company, founded in 1952, had been selling sophisticated equipment to governments all over the world.
"Switzerland's secure encrypted service Protonmail is probably the most popular in the world right now. It's founders all come from CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, which is also in Switzerland. And their service is free. When you see anything 'free' you know deep down that they are profiting a different way. So, of course, the repetition of this story is already underway," Anderson said, when asked if users of online encrypted services and mobile applications could be spied on.
Protonmail is not the only service that someone might use to take advantage of its users, the former intelligence officer continued.
"There are many others operational. For example Hushmail in Ireland and Canada. The only safe way in this day and age to keep secrets safe is [to keep it] verbalized between one person and another inside a secure white noise room. ... As you well know, once anything is passed to a third person then it is no longer a secret," he said.
Crypto's clients included Iran, Latin America, India, Pakistan, and even the Vatican, as well as many others, according to the reports. Russia and China, on the other hand, have managed to steer clear of the equipment.
Switzerland, famous for its neutrality policy, said Tuesday it was launching an investigation into the espionage allegations.
"Obviously Switzerland was always known for keeping secrets, both in its legal system and morally. Historically it's how the country makes its money. ... People in the secrecy business need to live where they feel safe from prosecution," Anderson said.
The Washington Post claimed that Crypto's products were still in use in more than a dozen countries around the world, and that both the CIA and the BND had declined to comment.
Related Topics
Recent Stories

Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed leaves Albania after working visit

Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed meets Prime Minister of Albania

On behalf of UAE President, Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed arrives in Albania on w ..

Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed leaves Belgrade after working visit

'Emirates Jewellers' Pavilion dazzles visitors with unique collections ..

Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed discusses trilateral relations with President of Se ..

EAD launches its Auto Permit X71 Licensing Service, signs MoUs with Abu Dhabi De ..

UAE condemns terrorist bombings in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces ..

Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, President of Serbia, Prime Minister of Hungary vis ..

ADAFSA to develop integrated strategy to reduce food loss & waste

Abu Dhabi Police Commander-in-Chief meets Commissioner of Israeli National Polic ..

Dubai Miracle Garden blooms anew in its 12th Season with dazzling floral display ..
More Stories From World
-
Vietnam court jails climate activist for tax evasion
1 day ago -
Grief, anger at Iraq mass for victims of wedding fire
1 day ago -
Chinese President Xi attends National Day reception
1 day ago -
CTO Lahore intensifies anti-smog campaign
1 day ago -
'Harry Potter' actor Michael Gambon dies aged 82
1 day ago -
Biden to blast 'dangerous' Trump in 2024 democracy speech
1 day ago
-
Republicans advance Biden impeachment probe dismissed as 'stunt'
1 day ago -
PRCS organizes Grand Mehfil-e-Milad to Celebrate Eid Milad un Nabi
1 day ago -
The strategic yet isolated Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan
4 days ago -
Egypt announces presidential vote on December 10-12
4 days ago -
Kosovo marks day of mourning after deadly clashes in troubled north
4 days ago -
Azerbaijan vows to guarantee rights of Karabakh Armenians
4 days ago