Decoding What These NSA Codenames For Spy Programs and Hacker Tools Actually Mean!

The world was on a storm when Edward Snowden disclosed the documents about NSA's secret program. The documents leaked details about how NSA has been provided with direct access to the servers of almost every big internet giant. Interestingly, these documents carried a few strange code names for their hacking tools and spy programs. Here's a list:

1. Blarney

What it is: NSA Internet and telephony network collection program.

2. Boundless Informant

What it is: The big data analysis and visualization system making use of Dial Number Recognition (DNR) and Digital Network Intelligence (DNI) information.

3. Bullrun

What it is: The NSA program whose goal is to break encryption.

4. Cultweave

What it is: One of the NSA’s Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) databases.

5. Dewsweeper

What it is: Universal Serial Bus (USB) hardware host tap that provides COVERT link into a target network.

6. Egotistical Giraffe

What it is: a technology for uncovering the identities of those using an online system designed to keep users anonymous.

7. Evilolive

What it is: A metadata collection tool used for telecom and Internet communications.

8. Fallout

What it is: A DNI metadata processor that provides filtering for the NSA’s PRISM program for collection of Internet e-mail, files, social media and more with cooperation from service providers.

9. Foxacid

What it is: A surveillance tool that seeks to target Tor users, Tor being a anonymity service.

10. Genie

What is it: The program for planting spyware.

11. Whitetamale

What it is: A program in which the NSA hacked into Mexican officials’ e-mails.

12. Money Rocket, Shifting Shadow, Yachtshop

What they are: Cable-intercept programs targeting counter-terrorism in the Middle East, Europe and Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the general Internet.

13. Klondike

What it is: Control system for sensitive geospatial intelligence.

14. Messiah

What it is: NSA automated message handling system.

15. Moonlightpath

What it is: An NSA collection program.

16. Oceanariam

What it is: Database for signals intelligence from NSA and its partners around the world.

17. Renoir

What it is: NSA telephone network visualization tool.

18. Shelltrumpet

What it is: an NSA metadata processing program.

19. Stormbrew

What it is: NSA Internet and telephony network collection program.

20. Traffic Thief

What it is: Part of the TURBULENCE program for detecting cyberspace threats and the PRISM program for collecting Internet data, especially from e-mail and social media providers.

Courtesy: CIO

23:37