Leaks spook spy agencies

25 February 2015 - 02:35 By Shaun Smillie and Graeme Hosken
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Hacker. File photo
Hacker. File photo
Image: Gallo Images/Thinkstock

Spy agencies across the world are closing ranks as South Africa's most potentially damaging intelligence leak continues.

Neither the UK, Israeli, Iranian nor North Korean governments would comment yesterday amid the fallout from the country's State Security Agency's breach.

The South African Intelligence Ministry yesterday also remained mum on the leaks.

Brian Dube, Intelligence minster spokesman, said it would comment today.

Cyber crimes forensic expert Danny Myburgh said: "To trace the leak, the government must look at how widespread it is.

"If the leak is on one person it's easy, but in this case it's multiple people in multiple countries. It's organised and extensive."

He said if the snitch was a whistleblower, it would be understandable, but not tolerable.

"But if it's an external hack, there are serious problems. Our national security is at risk."

Defence analyst Darren Olivier said: "A serious trust relationship has been broken. SSA will have to show it's capable of keeping its secrets secret.

"Al Jazeera has redacted the names of agents but we don't know if these documents were intercepted before they received them."

Cornelia September, joint standing committee on Intelligence chairman, said an investigation would be launched.

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