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Mexican Drug Cartel Hacker Used Surveillance Tech to Target FBI Informants for Execution
A recent report by the US Justice Department has revealed a shocking case of surveillance technology being used against law enforcement officials. According to the report, a hacker associated with the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico used phone data and surveillance cameras installed around Mexico City to identify people connected to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This information was then used to intimidate and sometimes execute individuals believed to be sharing information or cooperating with law enforcement.
The report details how the hacker, who remains unnamed, observed individuals as they entered and exited the United States Embassy in Mexico City. This surveillance helped identify “people of interest” and ultimately led to the identification of an FBI assistant legal attaché.
Without providing specifics on how the hacker obtained the phone number associated with this official, it is clear that he used this information to access calls made and received from that number as well as geolocation data linked to that device. Furthermore, the hacker reportedly tapped into surveillance cameras across Mexico City to track individuals as they moved through the city and identify those they met with.
The report’s primary focus was not on the specifics of this particular case but rather on the broader issue of protecting sources in today’s surveillance-heavy environment. The Justice Department concluded that advances in data mining, facial recognition, and computer network exploitation have made it easier for nation-state adversaries, terrorist organizations, and criminal networks to identify FBI personnel and operations.
This development raises serious concerns about the vulnerability of law enforcement officials who are meant to protect society but now find themselves under threat from malicious actors.
Source: gizmodo.com
