14 DAY TRIAL // It’s been more than three months since the first articles based on Edward Snowden’s leaked documents were published and NSA officials finally think they know what files were taken and how the whistleblower managed to get away with it.
In an interview with NPR, two government officials explained what they found so far.
“We have an extremely good idea of exactly what data he got access to and how exactly he got access to it,” said Lonny Anderson, NSA’s chief technology officer.
It seems the files were all stored in a file-sharing location on the NSA’s intranet site, which made it easy for analysts and officials to read and discuss them.
Anyone with a Top Secret SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) clearance could access those documents. Snowden, as a systems administrator, didn’t only get access to the files, but that was his responsibility.
His job description put Snowden in the position to go to the NSA intranet and move sensitive documents to a more secure location.
“It’s kind of brilliant, if you’re him. His job was to do what he did. He wasn’t a ghost. He wasn’t that clever. He did his job. He was observed, but it was his job,” an official said.
What they did not realize was that Snowden was also making digital copies of the files. They would not say, however, how he managed to take the files out of the agency.
It is assumed, however, that it was done through simple thumb drives. Some computers in the NSA have such drives, although copying files is highly restricted.
Following the leaks, the NSA changed its tactic and locked down the computers to prevent future leaks. It seems the system administrators now work in pairs, which should make it even more difficult for another Snowden to appear down the line.