Wikileaks offers access to CIA hacking document trove to Microsoft, Apple and Google

Julian Assange offers to work with tech giants to help them patch exploited software before Wikileaks publishes more leaked CIA documents

WikiLeaks' founder and coordinator Julian Assange has offered Apple, Google, Samsung and other IT companies privileged access to the organisation's trove of documents detailing the CIA's stash of hacking tools - before Wikileaks goes public.

It comes after Wikileaks published 8,761 documents, dubbed ‘Year Zero', in what it said was the first part in a series of leaks on the agency that it has dubbed ‘Vault 7'. Wikileaks claims to have more than 700,000 secret CIA documents that it is sifting through.

The bold claims in the documents indicated that the CIA had used 'weaponised exploits' against every major operating system - Android, Apple's iOS and MacOs operating systems, Linux and Windows, as well as Samsung TVs, which it could use to eavesdrop on targets.

The documents suggested that the CIA knew of vulnerabilities in various operating systems. However, it did not alert tech manufacturers of the security flaws it uncovered so that it could use them to gain access to devices. Equally, though, Wikileaks has been accused of sensationalising the exploits described in the documents.

Now, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has said that the whistleblowing organisation will work with these companies before it reveals further details from the trove of documents to the general public. This, he claimed, should help ensure that the vulnerabilities have been looked at and fixed by the companies in question.

"We have quite a lot of exploits…. That we want to disarm before we think about publishing it," he said in a press conference streamed on Periscope.

"We're going to work with some of these manufacturers to try and get these antidotes out there," he added.

On Wednesday, Apple said it had already fixed many of the vulnerabilities exploited by the CIA.

"While our initial analysis indicates that many of the issues leaked today were already patched in the latest iOS, we will continue work to rapidly address any identified vulnerabilities," an Apple spokesperson told the BBC, before urging customers to download the latest iOS to ensure they have the most recent security update.

Microsoft, meanwhile, said that it was urgently looking into the matter on Wednesday, but told the BBC today that it had not yet been contacted by Assange.

"Our preferred method for anyone with knowledge of security issues, including the CIA or Wikileaks, is to submit details to us at [email protected] so we can review information and take any necessary steps to protect customers," a spokesperson said.

Of the leaks, perhaps the most shocking was that the CIA was working with the UK's MI5 to target Samsung smart TVs using a surveillance technique dubbed ‘Weeping Angel'. The tool purportedly enables government agencies to place Samsung TVs into 'fake-off mode', which allows conversations to be recorded, even when the television appears to be switched off.

The tool, though, requires physical access to the television to set it up. Samsung said it was looking into the matter.

In response to the revelations, CIA spokeswoman, Heather Fritz Horniak told the BBC: "As we've said previously, Julian Assange is not exactly a bastion of truth and integrity.

"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," she said.