“Servers, Belgacom hacked by foreign intelligence’ – update

Servers of the Belgian isp Belgacom for two years already bugged by a foreign intelligence service, probably the NSA or the British GCHQ. Report that two newspapers. The hack would be focused on a Belgacom subsidiary that in the Middle-East operates.

On servers of the telephone company by a Dutch security firm, that by Belgacom was enabled, “advanced malware” found, write newspaper NRC Handelsblad and the Belgian newspaper De Standaard. The Belgian newspaper claims based on anonymous sources claims that the NSA is behind the hack, but according to the NRC would also the British secret service GCHQ, which is much cooperates with the NSA, the attack committed.

The hack would have focused on Belgacom’s International Carrier Services, a joint venture of Belgacom and two other providers that support services to other telco’s provide. In which sector is BICS one of the biggest players, what the interest of the intelligence services, explains. The intelligence agencies would be especially interested in telephone traffic, in countries such as Syria, Yemen and other countries by the Americans under the name ‘rogue’ to be a success.

The last weekend the Dutch security company to the servers of Belgacom according to The Standard cleaned. Also would one have registered. According to The Standard is the case in Belgium is a politically sensitive issue, because the federal government is largely owner of Belgacom. In a response confirms Belgacom that there is ‘action is taken’ in the context of ‘it security’, but gives no further details.

Update, 11:40: The Belgian government has outraged at the news. If there really is a ‘cyber-espionage’, then the government will be ‘appropriate steps’ to take, writes The Standard.