False flags & cyber wars: New Snowden leaks reveal Canada spy agency’s ‘deception toolbox’
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A confidential presentation by Canada’s intelligence agency Communications Security Establishment (CSE) dated 2011 was among the documents published jointly by the Canadian Broadcast Corporation and The Intercept, the website of investigative journalist Glenn Greenwald. In it, the counterpart of US National Security Agency (NSA) assures its Five Eyes allies – US, UK, Australia and New Zealand – that by 2015 it “will seek the authority to conduct a wide spectrum of Effects operations in support of our mandates.”
The allegedly leaked presentation shows 32 techniques that could be employed by the CSE – some defensive, others proactive. Among them are:
– ‘Computer network operations to destroy adversary infrastructure’: using electronic means to cause physical damage is an increasing priority. The most well-known example is Stuxnet, a likely US-Israeli virus that damaged Iran’s uranium enrichment centrifuges. But attack targets could include power stations, dams and airports. There are other options listed of controlling/disabling infrastructure;
‘When you collect everything, you understand nothing’ – Snowden– ‘False flag operations’: these create damage and then leave a trail of evidence that pins the blame on another country or agent;
– ‘Traffic Alteration’: intercepting enemy communications with the purpose of inserting malware, which can be used for inflicting damage.
It has also simultaneously accused CBC and the Intercept of “misunderstanding” the published files, and “rendering our methods less effective.”
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“In moving from ideas or concepts to planning and implementation, we examine proposals closely to ensure that they comply with the law and internal policies, and that they ultimately lead to effective and efficient ways to protect Canada and Canadians against threats,” CSE said in a statement.
Snowden’s leaks had shown that the CSE targets cellphones with the highly sophisticated WARRIORPRIDE malware and also maintains a botnet, or a whole network of infected private computers, to attack targets without giving itself away. Back in 2013, the NSA leaks implied that Canadians were also allegedly involved in spying on devices connected to the Brazilian mining and energy ministry – which was part of what prompted accusations of industrial espionage and a diplomatic row between Brasilia and Washington.
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