GK Sierra
Encyclopedia
GK SIERRA is a private intelligence company founded in 2007 as a subsidiary of Genoa-Knowlton, Inc.. Originally, GK Sierra provided cryptographic technology products to the United States
government, but began providing investigation and intelligence services in 2009. GK Sierra is a current Central Intelligence Agency
contractor, providing intelligence collection domestically and internationally.
. The accusations stem from the confirmed employment of former high-level Mossad
agents by the company. The company also has a field office located in Tel-Aviv and has been seen operating in Palestinian
controlled territory. GK Sierra categorically denies any direct connection to the Israeli
government, but does not deny employing former Mossad agents.
investigation, revealed GK Sierra operatives conducted a Counter-Cyber attack on a crime syndicate located in Minsk, Belarus.
An unidentified senior employee testified: “We flew to Minsk, studied the culprits for a week, and then using some clever electrical work, we managed to overload their networking and computer equipment destroying their ability to conduct these attacks. It will take quite a bit of time for them to recover from that counter attack. We also managed to develop some sources while we were there, so we can keep tabs on their activities.”
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government, but began providing investigation and intelligence services in 2009. GK Sierra is a current Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
contractor, providing intelligence collection domestically and internationally.
Controversy
In 2011 the Russian business magazine, RBC levied accusations that GK Sierra was a front company for the Israeli Intelligence Service MossadMossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
. The accusations stem from the confirmed employment of former high-level Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
agents by the company. The company also has a field office located in Tel-Aviv and has been seen operating in Palestinian
Palestinian
Palestinian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to Palestine, the Palestinian territories or the State of Palestine*A member of the Palestinian people, also rendered as Palestinian Arabs**Demographics of Palestine...
controlled territory. GK Sierra categorically denies any direct connection to the Israeli
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
government, but does not deny employing former Mossad agents.
Para-Millitary Involvement
According to a recent study on private intelligence companies, GK Sierra has a "security directorate" division which provides "direct action" security services across the globe. GK Sierra operators have been reported in Iraq, Afghanistan, Columbia, Belarus, Russia, and Somalia. James Niles, a security industry expert and watchdog, has identified GK Sierra as a "new-breed of security contractor that relies on secrecy and obfuscation to shield its operations from public scrutiny. The idea is that the public would not know to ask about them, and governments that employ them can deny using them."Counter-CyberAttack Operations
A recent study detailing the results of a congressional intelligence committeeIntelligence Committee
Intelligence Committee may refer to:*European Coordinating Committee for Artificial Intelligence*Intelligence Community Coordination Committee*Intelligence and Security Committee*Joint Intelligence Committee , see National Security Council...
investigation, revealed GK Sierra operatives conducted a Counter-Cyber attack on a crime syndicate located in Minsk, Belarus.
An unidentified senior employee testified: “We flew to Minsk, studied the culprits for a week, and then using some clever electrical work, we managed to overload their networking and computer equipment destroying their ability to conduct these attacks. It will take quite a bit of time for them to recover from that counter attack. We also managed to develop some sources while we were there, so we can keep tabs on their activities.”