NSA Director Admits Encryption Keys Jeopardize Data Security

NSA Director and head of US Cybercommand Michael Rogers acknowledged that creating tools to overcome secure data encryption poses greater vulnerability to that data.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Creating tools to overcome secure data encryption poses greater vulnerability to that data, US National Security Agency (NSA) Director and head of US Cybercommand Michael Rogers acknowledged in testimony to the Senate on Thursday.

US Senator Ron Wyden asked Rogers whether the creation of an encryption key "creates more opportunities for malicious actors and foreign hackers to get access to the key."

Rogers replied, "If you want to paint it very broadly like that…then my view is, yes."

US law enforcement and intelligence agencies have recently raised concerns over private companies equipping communications devices with secure encryption tools, making it technically impossible to retrieve communications data.

Rogers stated that the new technology and applications denying outside access to encrypted data "represent a challenge" to the ability of the NSA to generate intelligence insight.

Despite national security concerns raised by the NSA and other federal agencies, US technology companies continue providing users with encryption tools.

The US government is currently engaged with the private sector to find solutions to address the government’s inability to get access to encrypted data during lawful investigations.