Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has openly offered further leaks regarding the CIA’s cyber-warfare programme exclusively to technology firms. Assange alleges that providing tech companies with the leaked information will help people to get their data secured faster.
After Wikileaks released the first volume of classified files about the CIA’s cyber-security arsenal on Tuesday, Mr Assange has come forward with the offer to help tech companies provide the best security to their customers.
“Considering what we think is the best way to proceed and hearing these calls from some of the manufacturers, we have decided to work with them to give them some exclusive access to the additional technical details that we have so that the fixes can be developed and pushed out, so people can be secure,” said Mr Assange in an announcement on Facebook Live.
There has not yet been any indication from the larger technology companies if they plan to accept Assange’s assistance and information.
Microsoft released a statement in the aftermath of the message, stating that they had seen Assange’s message but had not yet been contacted.
“Our preferred method for anyone with knowledge of security issues, including the CIA or Wikileaks, is to submit details to us at secure@microsoft.com so we can review information and take any necessary steps to protect customers,” the statement said.
The burning question surrounding the proposition has been the trustworthiness of Assange himself. He is believed by some US government agencies to be a puppet of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
CIA spokesperson Jonathon Liu labelled him as “not exactly a bastion of truth and integrity”, while also stressing that the leaks had not damaged the CIA’s information-gathering capabilities.
“Despite the efforts of Assange and his ilk, CIA continues to aggressively collect foreign intelligence overseas to protect America from terrorists, hostile nation states and other adversaries,” said Mr Liu.
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