Xkeyscore Source Code Exclusive -

The leaked source code, primarily written in Python and specialized configuration languages, reveals that XKEYSCORE functions as a highly customizable rule engine. Analysts write specific definitions, known as "fingerprints," to extract actionable intelligence from the sea of raw data. 1. App-Specific Parsers

During his 2013 leaks, Edward Snowden claimed that XKEYSCORE could "write to your hard drive" if you were a target. The academic community dismissed this as hyperbole. However, the exclusive source code contains a reference to a remote_forensics module that mounts network file systems (SMB, AFP, NFS) to push a small "tagging agent" to unpatched clients.

Inside XKEYSCORE: Decoding the NSA’s Digital Dragnet In July 2013, the world learned about XKEYSCORE, the National Security Agency’s (NSA) most wide-reaching system for intercepting and analyzing global internet data. Edward Snowden famously revealed that from his desk, he could wiretap anyone, from a federal judge to the president, using a simple email address. xkeyscore source code exclusive

According to the configuration file ( config/xs_global.conf ), the system retains "FULL DATA" for 3 days, "SURFACE DATA" (metadata + payload previews) for 30 days, and "META ONLY" for 365 days. However, a commented line in the code ( // 5-eyes no deletion policy ) suggests that data marked as "Permanent Hold" never actually purges.

The alleged XKeyscore source code leak has significant implications: The leaked source code, primarily written in Python

The comments in the code were the most damning part. Programmers often leave notes for one another—jokes, frustrations, explanations. These comments were clinical.

Searching for specific encryption software (e.g., TrueCrypt). App-Specific Parsers During his 2013 leaks, Edward Snowden

Buried in the /doc/ folder of the exclusive leak is a maintenance log. It lists the annual cost to maintain the XKEYSCORE global grid: . It also lists the last reboot time of a server codenamed FORTE-11 located at the Telehouse West data center in London: "Never. Uptime: 2,341 days."

In July 2014, German broadcasters NDR and WDR obtained and published excerpts of XKeyscore’s source code, marking the first time the public saw the literal instructions used by NSA computers. Key findings from this code include: