The major revelation with these CIA leaks is the sloppiness, laziness, and lack of terrorist focus by the agency. Anti-terrorist surveillance yes, lack of professional conduct against purported threats shows an inept agency.
1
This is year old news. Search on "60 minutes phone hacking" for the story. ANY government can and does hack anyone they want - and you cannot even see the phone/computer/tv is turned on or active. Watch the story.
The biggest problem is the insipid individuals with the moronic attitude of - I don't have anything to hide - and then have virtually no security in place on their devices.
Um ... that's not the point. It is illegal. Period.
The biggest problem is the insipid individuals with the moronic attitude of - I don't have anything to hide - and then have virtually no security in place on their devices.
Um ... that's not the point. It is illegal. Period.
3
Not All Leaks are Created Equal
Where it is a legitimate "whistle-blowing" that exposes a clear and present malfeasance, that is one thing (that still requires justification).
Where it is not the above, such as this case appears to be, it becomes untenable, pernicious, if not out-right criminal.
That said, so long as the Intelligence community continues to leak secrets for partisan advantage, leaks like this will garner far less sympathy/concern then may otherwise be prudent.
The Left/Right dichotomy is a natural ad hoc paradigm of balancing opposites, which are inseparable, symbiotic. To injure either half, is to injure the whole.
Partisanship must end at the conclusion of an election; exemplified in the phrase "LOYAL Opposition."
Where it is a legitimate "whistle-blowing" that exposes a clear and present malfeasance, that is one thing (that still requires justification).
Where it is not the above, such as this case appears to be, it becomes untenable, pernicious, if not out-right criminal.
That said, so long as the Intelligence community continues to leak secrets for partisan advantage, leaks like this will garner far less sympathy/concern then may otherwise be prudent.
The Left/Right dichotomy is a natural ad hoc paradigm of balancing opposites, which are inseparable, symbiotic. To injure either half, is to injure the whole.
Partisanship must end at the conclusion of an election; exemplified in the phrase "LOYAL Opposition."
2
The ship of state has been leaking like a sieve since January 20. POTUS has been whining on Twitter about how hard the job is, how complicated the issues are and how unfair everyone is to him.
Can SNL do a skit to explain to him that this is on his watch and is his responsibility to fix?
Can SNL do a skit to explain to him that this is on his watch and is his responsibility to fix?
3
What wikileaks seems to be saying is that the CIA et alia use the DNA of other hackers tools in their own hacks as a way of obscuring that they are CIA hack attacks. People are pointing out that the only evidence offered to back the claims that Russia ‘meddled’ in the American election was the presence of said DNA, and rightly pointing out that the ‘evidence’ could just as easily point to the CIA being the meddlers.
You might want to examine your dismissal of that as being ‘unsubstantiated by the evidence’ if you want to avoid running the risk of having to apologize the same way those who dismissed the questioning of the ‘unquestionably proven’ claims that Iraq had WMDS minutes from launch.
You might want to examine your dismissal of that as being ‘unsubstantiated by the evidence’ if you want to avoid running the risk of having to apologize the same way those who dismissed the questioning of the ‘unquestionably proven’ claims that Iraq had WMDS minutes from launch.
2
Analog is looking better every day.
4
So the Russian / Trump scandal starts to hit stride then wiki who worked with the Russians to release the democratic emails releases the CIA docs. Anybody see a connection to help the Trump administration escape from the Russian probe into their Russian connections?
4
I guess we can't rely on Microsoft or apple anymore? Google?
I cannot help but wonder if this will galvanize these three software/hardware providers to create far more robust systems?
Maybe this is the diamond in the coal pile that will inspire these 3 providers. I'd be seriously upset if I had been led down this primrose path only to be made a complete fool in the eyes of your customers.... Hope you're listening Bill Gates /Google/ Apple
I cannot help but wonder if this will galvanize these three software/hardware providers to create far more robust systems?
Maybe this is the diamond in the coal pile that will inspire these 3 providers. I'd be seriously upset if I had been led down this primrose path only to be made a complete fool in the eyes of your customers.... Hope you're listening Bill Gates /Google/ Apple
1
NO COURAGE HERE. NO HONOR for WIKILEAKS.
Leaks of the USA, not China, Russia, North Korea or Middle East countries. WHY-- these countries spy and hack, perhaps even more.
WIKILEAKS exposes USA because we are easier (surprise, we are more transparent), because we do not exterminate people without a trial, because we do not give those leaking ingested radiation poisoning or or Toxic inhaled chemicals.
Transparency can be good. UNILATERAL TRANSPARENCY IS CAVALIER ..................
Leaks of the USA, not China, Russia, North Korea or Middle East countries. WHY-- these countries spy and hack, perhaps even more.
WIKILEAKS exposes USA because we are easier (surprise, we are more transparent), because we do not exterminate people without a trial, because we do not give those leaking ingested radiation poisoning or or Toxic inhaled chemicals.
Transparency can be good. UNILATERAL TRANSPARENCY IS CAVALIER ..................
6
This is very rich. Wikileaks showing how someone else can compromise computers. They've gone way past shedding light on serious problems to giving tool to anybody who might want to hack anybody.
How hypocritical Julian.
Do you just need your ego stroked? (This is addressed to all involved.)
Just how will this do any good?
How hypocritical Julian.
Do you just need your ego stroked? (This is addressed to all involved.)
Just how will this do any good?
3
And the spies are in turn spied upon. Seems appropriate somehow. Spying on Americans for any reason without a court order is, and should remain, illegal. Sadly, the spooks now have more toys available without the ethics to go with them.
That the CIA is spying on people really comes as no surprise. That is, after all, their primary function. And when I read some of the comments here I was relieved to see that I am not alone in thinking that the release of this information was timed in such a way as to lend credence to Trump's preposterous claims about Obama wiretapping him at Trump Tower. Is this Putin trying to help dig Trump out of the very deep hole he has dug for himself?
7
Assange owner/operator of Wikileaks, currently sharing hacked or stolen files should be charged with criminally with collusion. He is not even a whistleblower, not being a resident of any country.
Files in a file cabinet or a computer belong to the owner of those files and the information that they contain. Assange continual leaking of files belonging to people and/or governments for "transparency of possible wrong doing" or to show that "he can" is reprehensible, further, potentially dangerous leaked information leaves agencies vulnerable to further attack or in this case shares information about Security Agencies that can be used against them. Totally irresponsible,
Files in a file cabinet or a computer belong to the owner of those files and the information that they contain. Assange continual leaking of files belonging to people and/or governments for "transparency of possible wrong doing" or to show that "he can" is reprehensible, further, potentially dangerous leaked information leaves agencies vulnerable to further attack or in this case shares information about Security Agencies that can be used against them. Totally irresponsible,
3
People need to connect the dots, Snowden fleas to Russia with secret government files, hands files over to Russian intelligence. The Russians subsequently increase their spying and hacking of US government and private sector systems. WikiLeaks forms an alliance with Russia who in turn disrupt American democracy. Trump and several members of his administration have had links to Russian since before the elections. Now WikiLeaks does this, it's an attempt to make Americans distrust the government. However, I believe it will backfire. Julian ASSange needs to rot in a Peruvian prison. ASSange now has a bull's-eye on his head.
6
It would seem that in the 21st century it is okay for security employees to do what they want, to whom. WikiLeaks is nothing more than a game player with it's own idea of who will be winners and who will be losers. We have courts for treason, maybe we should use them.
3
WikiLeaks has now officially run into the same problem it conferred on its designated enemy-in-chief, Hillary's DNC, with the American voter: an escalated trust problem.
If I'd consider whistleblowing information compromising Republicans, I would not feel confident (any longer) to entrust WikiLeaks with it.
But WikiLeaks has also robbed me of feeling confident with the safety of other offers, by the paper of record for example, to be free of the scourge of NSA, CIA or Putin monitoring and intercepting.
So I can't be a whistleblower and leak the tax returns if I wanted without seriously risking to be found out and punished.
Even if there was a trustworthy site for leaks, I'd risk quite much, since how many (auditors) have access? They including me would all be up for severe interrogations and cross-examinations. Not much joy in store for me there, therefore much rocks to trip over into an abyss.
It's rumored that German and other secret services hacked and so thwarted the efforts by OpenLeaks to found an alternative leaking site. That renders us an insane irony of history that the politicians of reason may have thwarted the option of those tax returns to be leaked timely and so prevent Trump themselves! So they might have shot into their own feet twice. By superimposing Clinton on the Democratic electorate causing independents to flee them in droves, a consequence anyone's demented gran could do the math of, but the DNC could not. And, gosh, by torpedoing safe leak sites?
If I'd consider whistleblowing information compromising Republicans, I would not feel confident (any longer) to entrust WikiLeaks with it.
But WikiLeaks has also robbed me of feeling confident with the safety of other offers, by the paper of record for example, to be free of the scourge of NSA, CIA or Putin monitoring and intercepting.
So I can't be a whistleblower and leak the tax returns if I wanted without seriously risking to be found out and punished.
Even if there was a trustworthy site for leaks, I'd risk quite much, since how many (auditors) have access? They including me would all be up for severe interrogations and cross-examinations. Not much joy in store for me there, therefore much rocks to trip over into an abyss.
It's rumored that German and other secret services hacked and so thwarted the efforts by OpenLeaks to found an alternative leaking site. That renders us an insane irony of history that the politicians of reason may have thwarted the option of those tax returns to be leaked timely and so prevent Trump themselves! So they might have shot into their own feet twice. By superimposing Clinton on the Democratic electorate causing independents to flee them in droves, a consequence anyone's demented gran could do the math of, but the DNC could not. And, gosh, by torpedoing safe leak sites?
2
so that's what happed to 3-D
1
I am so sorry (but not really) that I simply do not see WikiLeaks as a purported force for good in the world. Nope.
7
Why hasn't wikileaks targeted Russian intelligence?
8
https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2017/03/08/world/europe/08reuters-cia-wi...
"U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials said on Wednesday they have been aware since the end of last year of a security breach at the CIA and were focusing on contractors as the likeliest source of documents being passed on to anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks detailing the agency's hacking tools.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that they believed documents published by WikiLeaks on Tuesday about CIA techniques used between 2013 and 2016 were authentic."
"U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials said on Wednesday they have been aware since the end of last year of a security breach at the CIA and were focusing on contractors as the likeliest source of documents being passed on to anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks detailing the agency's hacking tools.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that they believed documents published by WikiLeaks on Tuesday about CIA techniques used between 2013 and 2016 were authentic."
Glad we have those things.
It may become necessary for digitized information to be hidden in plain site, as in the Purloined Letter. One may be able to hide data bu exponentially increasing the data surrounding it like placing a microdot in a photo.
I am disappointed to see how people would rather lament about "Wikileaks team up with the Russians to undermine our democracy", rather then think about what the real discovery here is, i.e. the details of what we were already told by Snowden before, but elected to sweep under the rug of our conscience: the US government illegal spying upon its own citizens. It is really pathetic to see how easily some would forgive this in favor of playing the victim of Wikileaks-Russia unsubstantiated coalition.
8
You're making a straw man argument. The article specifically states that there is no evidence this technology was used against Americans. By law any order to spy on Americans must come through a FISA court. Nothing has changed, except that you've learned about technology that you have probably known about for a long time.
The connection between Assange and Russia is fully substantiated. Assange considered moving WikiLeaks to Moscow four years ago. He's hosted a show on RT television, the Russian government's propaganda network. Assange was outraged when the Panama Papers implicated Vladimir Putin in one money-laundering scheme. He's made very public that he considers Russia to be a necessary force to counter the United States, and he will not undermine Russia.
Why aren't you worried by this connection?
The connection between Assange and Russia is fully substantiated. Assange considered moving WikiLeaks to Moscow four years ago. He's hosted a show on RT television, the Russian government's propaganda network. Assange was outraged when the Panama Papers implicated Vladimir Putin in one money-laundering scheme. He's made very public that he considers Russia to be a necessary force to counter the United States, and he will not undermine Russia.
Why aren't you worried by this connection?
5
With all these tools and resources available to them, the CIA was unable to protect "our democracy" from "a group of government hired Russian trolls" who turned the presidential election around. Hmmm… I wonder why?
6
It would not have been possible without the travesty of the Electoral College's chronic nullification of a majority of votes cast in presidential elections on one pretext or another.
It looks to me that this country is too numb in the head even to respond to that insult to intelligence.
It looks to me that this country is too numb in the head even to respond to that insult to intelligence.
1
Steve, I highly recomment that you read the U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 1 (from 1787), and the 12th Amendment (from 1804) to familiarize yourself with how our Presidential elections work.
3
Rich, Steve is more aware of how presidential elections work then you--hence his comment about the Electoral College nullifying millions of votes in the last election.
How did the Electoral College--this jerry-rigged affair--come about? It's the direct result of our slave history. Madison knew that slave states wouldn't sign the constitution if we instituted a nationwide popular vote because slaves only counted as three-fifths of a person. Hence, the Electoral College was devised as a way to make sure that the entire population of a state counted in the presidential election, not just the voters.
How did the Electoral College--this jerry-rigged affair--come about? It's the direct result of our slave history. Madison knew that slave states wouldn't sign the constitution if we instituted a nationwide popular vote because slaves only counted as three-fifths of a person. Hence, the Electoral College was devised as a way to make sure that the entire population of a state counted in the presidential election, not just the voters.
1
Personally, I deplore Trump’s policies *and* I would rather not be surveilled by the CIA, thank you very much. I don’t see why resistance to Trump necessarily entails condoning misbehavior by the CIA. The Trump-CIA imbroglio is a Godzilla vs Mothra battle; ordinary citizens can only hope to stay out of the way of falling buildings, etc.
1
The wonderful Internet of Things is coming. I could see Russia from my Tesla. ;-)
1
Ex-prez Obama pushed the TPP real hard, sponsored Hillary Clinton, dismissed Bernie Sanders, allowed israel to continue their murderous land grab, didn’t prosecute wallstreet thieves, didn’t send bush and cheney to the hague, and we are asked to believe he would not indicate a desire to listen in on the Donald’s doings….
i sold that bridge but i have another one – and i offer you special price.
i sold that bridge but i have another one – and i offer you special price.
5
If Russia does get the US to self-immolate, it should give thanks to the McCarthyites who enacted the law that decrees the US to be "under God" in a loyalty oath since recited daily by schoolchildren, way back in 1953. It was a silly, idolatrous, and futile move to inoculate the US against "Godless communism".
Correct. I am reminded that it was President Obama who created a user name to chat with HRC while she was running her deceit with her 4 servers in the basement of her home. They knew Comey would do nothing; so she and he conversed freely. Obama is complict in the lies she created around the ‘Servergate” problem .
The American people are not stupid. If Obama could do this while President, aiding and abetting influence peddling and pay for play, then he would do anything to make sure his ‘legacy’ is left intact.
Anyway, why else would he be the head of the OFA whose primary purpose is to destroy Trump’s presidency. For all the hate spewed at Trump, these two…Obama and HRC, are corrupt.
The American people are not stupid. If Obama could do this while President, aiding and abetting influence peddling and pay for play, then he would do anything to make sure his ‘legacy’ is left intact.
Anyway, why else would he be the head of the OFA whose primary purpose is to destroy Trump’s presidency. For all the hate spewed at Trump, these two…Obama and HRC, are corrupt.
5
Get a clue, please. Regular State Department internet portals are frequently unavailable due to hacking attempts, which is why Secretaries of State have maintained private servers since the advent of the internet.
6
Dear citizens, AKA consumers. You have been spied upon and manipulated by American big and small businesses for at least a hundred years. Billions have been/are being secretly spent doing biased and bogus studies and hiding research to get around your health needs, billions are spent by abominably wealthy individuals and groups to subvert your political/economic/environmental interests while instituting their own plans for your life. Billions more are spent on special lobbying groups and goons (thousands of lawyers make up private business legal departments) who support and advise congressional puppets and other toadies that wrap the law around your throats while professing deeply held beliefs in freedoms of choice, honest and open competition, honest markets, and the liberty, but not the wherewithal, to contend with and oppose these adversaries of your own compete exploitation. It is too easy to accept the belief that we have an open society and that our economic methods and political purposes (our general culture, if there be such a thing)) are above board and transparent. to all who would like to know about them. If you more or less accept all this, why so upset by WikiLeaks, a creature born from a nasty hundred year old milieux? We seem to birth our enemies from our own collective being.
4
I assumed Obama had already tapped my phone.
2
If these tools are so great, how come we can't stop internet scams and Russian hacking?
2
it's all true.! everyone does it...to others and to themselves...the press can parse the spy game anyway it chooses, but diligent inquiry will reveal the facts of its existence and the uses of its yield...in a hot war the strategic planners would get to work to destroy oil refineries and factories that make war toys...then the tacticals go after airstrips and railroads....now what?
our internal bickering, the leaks especially, damage us by giving the other guys' counter intelligence keys to our spycraft and this time, loose lips will sink more than ships.
the russians have become practiced in their spycraft and have employed it mainly toward subversion, not exactly a secret, though the press, when kruschev said "we will bury you" took him literally and went off on an obsessive hunt for military hardware.
now we've got a country in a dither, a chaos of competing factions, disunited and alienated, their divergence, from san franciso to middlebury, pushed by russian antics and, more so, by our chicken-little panic.
and though the fashion is to blame trump for everything from eve's apple to mika brzezinka's dizzy spells, our vulnerability stems from a lack of diligence
in foreign policy that has eroded our credibility and made us vulnerable to those fearing no risk of response...obama has to take a fair share of the credit for this...but now we've got to find a war footing, cyberwar, but still deadly, existentially, as the saying goes, and that has to begin with unity.
our internal bickering, the leaks especially, damage us by giving the other guys' counter intelligence keys to our spycraft and this time, loose lips will sink more than ships.
the russians have become practiced in their spycraft and have employed it mainly toward subversion, not exactly a secret, though the press, when kruschev said "we will bury you" took him literally and went off on an obsessive hunt for military hardware.
now we've got a country in a dither, a chaos of competing factions, disunited and alienated, their divergence, from san franciso to middlebury, pushed by russian antics and, more so, by our chicken-little panic.
and though the fashion is to blame trump for everything from eve's apple to mika brzezinka's dizzy spells, our vulnerability stems from a lack of diligence
in foreign policy that has eroded our credibility and made us vulnerable to those fearing no risk of response...obama has to take a fair share of the credit for this...but now we've got to find a war footing, cyberwar, but still deadly, existentially, as the saying goes, and that has to begin with unity.
1
Just as pre-election, I think these are cherry picked for Putin's goals so am not interested. Any little tad of gossip though...
3
". . . if confirmed, WikiLeaks said that the C.I.A. and allied intelligence services have managed to compromise both Apple and Android smartphones, allowing their officers to bypass the encryption on popular services such as Signal, WhatsApp and Telegram."
Well, at least now I can stop defending and explaining to everyone who has badgered me for never owning a smartphone that perhaps it never was a smart idea after all.
Well, at least now I can stop defending and explaining to everyone who has badgered me for never owning a smartphone that perhaps it never was a smart idea after all.
7
The timing of this release is very suspicious...Perhaps another smokescreen. Does anyone know of evidence indicating when the Vault material was leaked to WikiLeaks, or whomever? Who was in charge at the time? (Not that it seems anyone was or is in charge of maintaining our clandestine capabilities).
2
Power corrupts absolutely or something like that so said Aristotle. Wikileaks (Assange) now believes he has the world in his hands because he can disclose whatever he likes whenever he likes. Ah, he is feeling the power. Unfortunately for him, all wanna bee rulers with ultimate power have one thing in common, they are mentally unstable or disturbed. This is our advantage, the world will also have its' day. See Mr. Assange for what he is, just a criminal enslaved by his own device and paid by the highest bidder. Criminals do not have friends they have enemies. The CIA must do their job to protect our country but also to have some brains. They know about Assange's abilities, keep him at bay but close. Someone's head should roll for the CIA's compromised position and to making us less safe. Every device that can connect to the internet is compromised, this fact should be written on one's electronic device before buying it.
1
How is this not The Times' lead news item? It's the biggest story since of at least the past half century. EVERY ONE OF US IS UNDER CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE BY THE GOVERNMENT!!! Has that sunk in? It's hard to believe that people want to "kill the messenger." We should pin a medal on the messenger, and investigate and prosecute those who ordered and executed these unconstitutional and horrifying violations of our privacy. And we should ask those who ordered these hacks of our phones, computers, televisions and cars, WHY IS EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN CITIZEN BEING SPIED ON?
3
First, it was the lead story on my news feed email. Second, where did it say the CIA used all of this to SPY on every single American?
2
Ask Jeff Sessions. He wants to use all these means and methods to eradicate legal cannabis in the US, apparently because he believes weed makes people liberal.
2
Your newsfeed is not The Times website or its hard copy. And I must ask you what it means to capture our every email, phone chat and spoken conversation if not that we're spied on? Are you feigning naiveté?
Lack of privacy is a foregone conclusion in technological civilizations. This is why it is so important to prevent puritans from enacting laws purporting to represent the interests of all-seeing deities who allegedly create natural disasters to punish human conduct.
1
But is Wikileaks credible? After their interference in the last "election," where a number of the documents were clearly edited and different versions released, can anyone (outside the NYT, which will believe anything...plus, both sides do it) believe Wikileaks anymore?
1
That the DNC emails were altered was a lie spread by Donna Brazil and JoyAnn Reid on MSNBC. The DNC emails were DKIM verified.
2
Why is this news? Seems perfunctory given the dense condition orchestrating government and so, generating the most serious threat; an impenetrable discourse among a literal non-critical analysis by men on the street. Non-critical analyses by Women not so much; to busy with either the trope 'career' or the reality, breeding children. Notice Donald Trump was elected.
Cyber offense and defense are essential to America's safety, and cyber offense is the best defense, because it helps you understand who is trying to attack you and how. This massive leak is a real threat to America. It greatly reduces our ability to protect ourselves from cyber attacks, and cyber attack could destroy America's infrastructure causing millions to die.
This recent leak may well have resulted from the huge damage done to our cyber defense caused by Snowdon's leaks. It show just how stupid the NYTimes and the mainstream media were in praising Snowdon's stealing of million of files describing America's cyber offense and defense was. Others before Snowdon had revealed information that the U.S. was spying on Americans, but they were patriotic enough to leak only information on that, so as to do as little damage as possible to America's ability to defend itself in cyberspac.
This recent leak may well have resulted from the huge damage done to our cyber defense caused by Snowdon's leaks. It show just how stupid the NYTimes and the mainstream media were in praising Snowdon's stealing of million of files describing America's cyber offense and defense was. Others before Snowdon had revealed information that the U.S. was spying on Americans, but they were patriotic enough to leak only information on that, so as to do as little damage as possible to America's ability to defend itself in cyberspac.
3
Americans do a lousy job of guarding their own brains from hacking. All the hacking in the world doesn't modify the judgment of people who believe their own eyes when viewing Trump, pro or con.
2
This is not really news. It wasn't even surprising when Snowden more responsibly disclosed the extent of surveillance. The only thing that has changed is that it is no longer just African American civil rights workers and allies who are aware of it. Wealthy white businessmen now know about and finally believe it. See Adam Davidson's March 13, 2017 New Yorker article
Translation for our Chief Twit:
It wasn't Pres Obama. TVs you've been constantly watching have been watching you. Only Richie Rich is surprised. DUMB!
Translation for our Chief Twit:
It wasn't Pres Obama. TVs you've been constantly watching have been watching you. Only Richie Rich is surprised. DUMB!
2
Except for the ULTRA-Jingoists most Americans and those all over the world with functioning minds have known that America is a SPY-State. America has more Spy agencies than any other country. Moreover, it spends more MONEY than any other country on building spying INFRASTRUCTURE, including installing moles, sending drones, and spreading ALTERNATIVE facts (TRUE LIES – wrapped in a thin veneer of half-facts).
Credibility of America is running low, not because Americans are bad, but because DEEP-STATE America has developed foul play as its operational norm. As more and more Americans realise this diseased state of the AMERICAN OLIGARCHS (those who own the DEEP STATE), they are revolting. However, the ordinary people are in disarray, and this makes the way for the ALTERNATIVE-FACTS coterie to take over the institutions of the state. Welcome to Trumps triumphalism.
Credibility of America is running low, not because Americans are bad, but because DEEP-STATE America has developed foul play as its operational norm. As more and more Americans realise this diseased state of the AMERICAN OLIGARCHS (those who own the DEEP STATE), they are revolting. However, the ordinary people are in disarray, and this makes the way for the ALTERNATIVE-FACTS coterie to take over the institutions of the state. Welcome to Trumps triumphalism.
1
The US has eyes in space with centimeter resolution of the surface and spectral analysis of every pixel.
Riddle me this Batman? If the CIA and other state agencies maintain databases of foreign hacking tools in order to leave false traces behind, how are the NYT, Federal Agencies, and the Dem National Committee (who refused to make their server available to the FBI) so certain that the Russians are behind the Dem Committee hacking? We can't include Podesta after all he wasn't hacked, he was just stupid enough to have supplied his credentials to an anonymous phisher.
4
We know those guys in Silicon Valley are Now working 24/7 to develop a 'ping jammer' for our communication devices....which China will then counterfeit. We'll be able to find them on 'check out lines' at our nearest grocery in 6 months. They'll also come with a hefty monthly monitering fee. Which creates yet Another circle of something to hack, jus sayn.
The timing of the WikiLeaks release--three days after President Trump's unsubstantiated Tweets of "wiretapping" by his predecessor--seems suspiciously convenient. It allows the president or his right wing media supporters to say that the US intelligence community has advanced hacking capabilities and to imply that they could have been used against him and his campaign staff. Is this release more evidence of WikiLeaks and Russian collaboration?
3
Cybersecurity expert James Lewis is mentioned in the article as blaming Russia for hacking the CIA and passing the documents to WikiLeaks. This assertion is nothing more than unsubstantiated speculation and should not have been included in the article by the Times. "Blame Russia" seems to be a dominant theme in much of the mainstream media, and it is being swallowed whole by much of the public. I am not an apologist for Russia or Putin, but I do expect the press to present solid evidence to support claims of devious activities by foreign nations. Not to do so is a betrayal of journalistic standards and the public trust.
4
“Patching security holes immediately, not stockpiling them, is the best way to make everyone’s digital life safer.”
This is the important takeaway. The focus on stolen tools is misdirected. The issue is the exploitable flaws in devices and software. If you keep your crowbar secret, it hardly enhances security where someone else can use theirs or a hammer and chisel to work the same door jamb gap. We know there are other tools, because the CIA was caught stockpiling those, too, so they could pretend to be other digital burglars. This is only a security crisis, a passing one, because the CIA did not abide by the Obama Administration's 2010 promise to be forthright about newly discovered flaws so that device and software companies could expeditiously redress them.
The temptation in intelligence agencies is to believe themselves too smart for their own good; that they are naturally smarter than the competition, always ahead of the prey; and that compromises of public security are always justifiable in pursuit of their own surveillance capabilities. But national surveillance is not national security; not where sooner or later, if not already, every nation state and every criminal hacker is in on the game; and not where the most dangerous "bad guys" are already justifiably paranoid and prudent, leaving only the general public stumbling in the dark, unaware.
This is the important takeaway. The focus on stolen tools is misdirected. The issue is the exploitable flaws in devices and software. If you keep your crowbar secret, it hardly enhances security where someone else can use theirs or a hammer and chisel to work the same door jamb gap. We know there are other tools, because the CIA was caught stockpiling those, too, so they could pretend to be other digital burglars. This is only a security crisis, a passing one, because the CIA did not abide by the Obama Administration's 2010 promise to be forthright about newly discovered flaws so that device and software companies could expeditiously redress them.
The temptation in intelligence agencies is to believe themselves too smart for their own good; that they are naturally smarter than the competition, always ahead of the prey; and that compromises of public security are always justifiable in pursuit of their own surveillance capabilities. But national surveillance is not national security; not where sooner or later, if not already, every nation state and every criminal hacker is in on the game; and not where the most dangerous "bad guys" are already justifiably paranoid and prudent, leaving only the general public stumbling in the dark, unaware.
It is profoundly stupid to believe that nobody else can figure out the same physics and mathematics.
Isn't it funny that the same "Progressives" who railed against the CIA and NSA spying cartel 10-15 years ago are now giving them the benefit of the doubt? Why? Politics. Or, more precisely, a lack of principles. Bush-era CIA/NSA? Evil! Nazis! Now that the CIA has run afoul a President they hate...boo-hoo! How dare Wikileaks pick on the poor CIA?!
5
I don't doubt that they know every intricacy of how updates are encoded and verified.
CIA/NSA has run afoul of nobody. Well, nobody who matters.
Mr. Trump brought his paranoia, his bully boy know-it-all attitude, and his fear of being found out with him. That's why he took the bizarre step of mocking, discrediting, and publicly making enemies of the people who scare him the most.
And we're not cheering on anybody, we're just amazed that people like you, people whose morals change with the breeze, are complaining about agencies and tactics that you supported whole-heartedly, that you crammed down our throats with your "If you're a real American you have nothing to be afraid of", and your ignorant devotion to Cheney, DARPA and the Patriot Act.
This is your party, TVNS, you really should try to enjoy it.
Although I have to admit it must be tough for people like you to admit we were right all along. Which is probably why you haven't done it.
Mr. Trump brought his paranoia, his bully boy know-it-all attitude, and his fear of being found out with him. That's why he took the bizarre step of mocking, discrediting, and publicly making enemies of the people who scare him the most.
And we're not cheering on anybody, we're just amazed that people like you, people whose morals change with the breeze, are complaining about agencies and tactics that you supported whole-heartedly, that you crammed down our throats with your "If you're a real American you have nothing to be afraid of", and your ignorant devotion to Cheney, DARPA and the Patriot Act.
This is your party, TVNS, you really should try to enjoy it.
Although I have to admit it must be tough for people like you to admit we were right all along. Which is probably why you haven't done it.
No. I'm a consistent animal. The Federal government has been a menace for a long, long time. Longer than any of us have been alive. It watches us, kills us--and everyone else on Earth, wages war, controls our commerce, etc. Your implication that I may be a Neoconservative is deeply insulting. My point was that the CIA with whom so many people in the NYT comment section are suddenly siding is the same CIA that ginned up cause for ultimately killing 3 or 4 million Iraqis. It's disgusting to watch the anti-Trump crowd essentially switch sides and forget the last 17 years.
2
Of course, the NYT mentions Umbrage near the end of the article, long after quoting an individual's conjecture, with absolutely no evidence, that the CIA documents were obtained through Russian hacking. As usual, the NYT is participating in creating a narrative that this is the fault of the Russians, just the way the paper and the MSM repeated that Russia hacked the election, with no convincing proof (the word of the DNC's private security firm? using the Russian language? being in the same time zone as Russia? using code associated with APTs that have been circulating around the Internet?). This is what should have been at the top of the story (from WIki): "The CIA's Remote Devices Branch's UMBRAGE group collects and maintains a substantial library of attack techniques 'stolen' from malware produced in other states including the Russian Federation.
With UMBRAGE and related projects the CIA cannot only increase its total number of attack types but also misdirect attribution by leaving behind the "fingerprints" of the groups that the attack techniques were stolen from."
For all we know, the CIA (or the NSA) could have tried to plant Russian fingerprints on the DNC hack. And there is no proof that Wiki didn't obtain the DNC emails from a leaker separate from foreign state hacking, which is done all the time both to and by our govt.
There is a good article by Yasha Levine, predating this Wiki release, on Baffler about hacking, looking back to the conflict with Georgia.
With UMBRAGE and related projects the CIA cannot only increase its total number of attack types but also misdirect attribution by leaving behind the "fingerprints" of the groups that the attack techniques were stolen from."
For all we know, the CIA (or the NSA) could have tried to plant Russian fingerprints on the DNC hack. And there is no proof that Wiki didn't obtain the DNC emails from a leaker separate from foreign state hacking, which is done all the time both to and by our govt.
There is a good article by Yasha Levine, predating this Wiki release, on Baffler about hacking, looking back to the conflict with Georgia.
5
It sure is amazing to read you Trump enablers giving Vlad Putin even more benefit of doubt than you do to your role model in the White House.
3
I can't stand Trump. I would love to see the Democratic party battle Trump by returning to its progressive values, but that would be against the interests of its Wall St and corporate funders and much of the party machinery/consultancy. Instead, it tries to deligitimize the Trump presidency and explain Clinton's loss with hysteria about Russia.
4
Its hard to take Wikileaks seriously after it became weaponized last year. Are the documents real, fake, altered? We don't and won't know and once Assange picked a side, the site's credibility disappeared.
7
I never imagined it would be the Republicans who took on the cause of making treason more socially acceptable, but you see where it has led us!
4
Treason to elect Republicans president has been accepted since Nixon torpedoed LBJ's Vietnam peace negotiations, back in 1968.
1
I don't think Assange is going anywhere now more than ever, the truth is Julian going dipper on he's own mess and dragging us all together with our Greedy Government.
We new for fact over the past the NSA programs looking on everyone anytime anywhere including me.
We new for fact over the past the NSA programs looking on everyone anytime anywhere including me.
Wikileaks aka Donald Trump's PR Company. This is old news. Anyone who ever watched THE GOOD WIFE saw this on several episodes. Hey Julian, get a new schtick.
3
There is little else to do while holed up in the Ecuadoran Embassy in London.
1
Okay let's be real here, why are we going to a site where anyone can create a page or edit it freely such as Wiki and consideration it to be facts? Did we also forget the creator of Wiki is good friends with Trump and so far all claims that Trump has made such as with the intelligence departments and these "leaks" are backing his claims with no real evidence?
4
So, this is how the "intelligence agencies" know that Trump is colluding with Putin. Now the all of the leaks around Trump administration really make sense.
The intelligence community knew Trump was working with Putin, they knew that the evidence would expose their various "spying" operations, so they had to leave "bread crumbs" all over to expose what they see as treason.
That's the story...
The intelligence community knew Trump was working with Putin, they knew that the evidence would expose their various "spying" operations, so they had to leave "bread crumbs" all over to expose what they see as treason.
That's the story...
MD
"...what they see as treason" ?!
"...what they see as treason" ?!
1
C.orruption I.n A.merica
This reminds me of the 1998 US state security abuse Thriller: Enemy of the State (Will Smith, Gene Hackman), which featured wiretapping and security recording implants of a lawyer's home, tv, phone, clothing, you name it.
Who knew it might all be true? Too true.
Who knew it might all be true? Too true.
Buried in this article, in an unclear (purposely?) form, is the news that the CIA has the capability of using malware it has stolen from the Russians to make it look like a hacking attack came from Russia instead of the CIA. This fact should be in the headlines not just buried in the article. The particular writing is as follows:
"...the C.I.A. has collected from malware produced by other countries, including Russia. According to the WikiLeaks release, the large number of techniques allows the C.I.A. to mask the origin of some of its attacks and confuse forensic investigators
"...the C.I.A. has collected from malware produced by other countries, including Russia. According to the WikiLeaks release, the large number of techniques allows the C.I.A. to mask the origin of some of its attacks and confuse forensic investigators
1
Where is Sean Hannity on this? Where's the interview with Assange, the hero of Trump's victory?
Trump voters were calling Hannity every day saying what a hero he was for exposing Clinton and what a great guy Assange is for helping save the American people. Let's see another cozy, kiss kiss interview.
Wikileaks focuses only on exposing U.S. secrets, we knew we were being spied on already. This is just a diversion, helped by the Right Wing Media, to protect their party leader. I get whiplash from the Republicans changing their principles, they stand only for lowing taxes on the wealthy, the rest is just charades.
Trump voters were calling Hannity every day saying what a hero he was for exposing Clinton and what a great guy Assange is for helping save the American people. Let's see another cozy, kiss kiss interview.
Wikileaks focuses only on exposing U.S. secrets, we knew we were being spied on already. This is just a diversion, helped by the Right Wing Media, to protect their party leader. I get whiplash from the Republicans changing their principles, they stand only for lowing taxes on the wealthy, the rest is just charades.
4
Hmmm?
Even with all these unbelievable capabilities, The C.I.A. did not protect Americans from a man under Russian influence becoming our President.
Probably by design.
Even with all these unbelievable capabilities, The C.I.A. did not protect Americans from a man under Russian influence becoming our President.
Probably by design.
3
We spend more than 50 billion dollar for CIA and I am glad that they have this capabilities. Whatever they do to protect America should be supported by all. Wikileaks is a Russian spy organization and anything they do should be rejected by patriotic Americans. America should put pressure on Costarica to throw this bum Julian Asange out of their embassy and he should face trial in USA. Same thing true for another Russian agent Snowden.
1
I'm glad there is Wikileaks. Commenters seem to hate them and blame the Russians. So, more evidence of the CIA and FBI spying on Americans, and creating false tracks to blame other countries and we either blame the messenger, or the "evil empire". We really are lost.
2
I think everyone hates a hypocrite. If WikiLeaks were truly dedicated to transparency, they would be publishing information about dictatorships like Russia. Assange promised Bill Maher that WikiLeaks was trying to hack Trump's tax returns. That seems to have gone nowhere.
WikiLeaks is simply another power player on the world stage. Obviously Assange is promoting his own agenda, not acting for idealistic reasons.
If you read the article, you'll see that there is no evidence of the CIA spying on Americans. A FISA warrant is required.
WikiLeaks is simply another power player on the world stage. Obviously Assange is promoting his own agenda, not acting for idealistic reasons.
If you read the article, you'll see that there is no evidence of the CIA spying on Americans. A FISA warrant is required.
Obama gave his full blessing on all this surveillance. I smell the demise of the DNC and the Democrat party.
2
What a spy agency. They can't even keep their own secrets!
1
Come on, you guys are crying because we are being spied upon by our Gov? Where the F have you all been since 9/11 and the Patriot Act?
We all know this is happening. No the real story is again, the hypocrisy of Right Wing Media.
Now Julian Assange has exposed U.S. secrets and damaged efforts to "keep America safe". (at least by Repub standards)
Where is Sean Hannity? Where's the interview with the hero of Trump's victory? All the Trump voters were calling Hannity every day saying what a hero he was for exposing this and what a great guy Assange is for helping save the American people from Clinton.
We all know this is happening. No the real story is again, the hypocrisy of Right Wing Media.
Now Julian Assange has exposed U.S. secrets and damaged efforts to "keep America safe". (at least by Repub standards)
Where is Sean Hannity? Where's the interview with the hero of Trump's victory? All the Trump voters were calling Hannity every day saying what a hero he was for exposing this and what a great guy Assange is for helping save the American people from Clinton.
1
Our intelligence agencies are harboring some bad actors, some trying to thwart the results of the presidential election. This disclosure reveals the tools available to them.
Hopefully President Trump can restore us to a government of, by, and for the people.
Hopefully President Trump can restore us to a government of, by, and for the people.
Recall 'The Lives of Others'?
The Stasi would have been proud of these accomplishments.
I bet revelations of this kind will persist and be taken seriously. People hate potential invasions of their privacy, and the mistrust of government is growing. Therefore, Congress and intelligence agencies must make clear to the public over and over again on whose behest, how and against whom these tools are used and what kind of checks and balances are in place to protect citizens.
Pointing fingers vaguely at Russia does not suffice.
The Stasi would have been proud of these accomplishments.
I bet revelations of this kind will persist and be taken seriously. People hate potential invasions of their privacy, and the mistrust of government is growing. Therefore, Congress and intelligence agencies must make clear to the public over and over again on whose behest, how and against whom these tools are used and what kind of checks and balances are in place to protect citizens.
Pointing fingers vaguely at Russia does not suffice.
1
If these tactics are only being used against foreign targets, great job CIA! If we can stop Isis electronically, that means less deaths on the battlefield. I hope the leaks do not cause too much damage to these programs, though.
1
Do you think Assange has the honest-brains to tell us whether or not Hillary’s email server might have been the same old private-classified server-system of former President Bill Clinton’s and if she and her staff may have thought it was still classified? Would 'Putin have known’ if Hillary Clinton’s email account was the same email account she used as First Lady, and that it might have been ‘half-classified’ on the old system, so that the other half might as well have been private that Putin thought he could exploit?
Let Assange and Putin prove ‘their’ knowledge ‘one way or the other’ as to whether or not my government could go public with the technology of their classified server system technology to have ‘publicly-defended’ Hillary Clinton in her email system, no matter what it entailed.
Now that Hillary Clinton is out of the public and government-positions, perhaps this New York Times would like to reveal their anonymous source to their first story on Hillary’s private server and find out whether or not this person had Putin, Assange or Republican leadership ties.
Let Assange and Putin prove ‘their’ knowledge ‘one way or the other’ as to whether or not my government could go public with the technology of their classified server system technology to have ‘publicly-defended’ Hillary Clinton in her email system, no matter what it entailed.
Now that Hillary Clinton is out of the public and government-positions, perhaps this New York Times would like to reveal their anonymous source to their first story on Hillary’s private server and find out whether or not this person had Putin, Assange or Republican leadership ties.
I have a "smart tv." I'd like to program it so that every time that idiot in the Oval Office is on tv it would turn itself off.
2
Susan
If you have a smart TV, get ready to experience all the wonders of high tech surveillance first hand.
And get ready to thank the Republicans for The Patriot Act which made it all possible.
If you have a smart TV, get ready to experience all the wonders of high tech surveillance first hand.
And get ready to thank the Republicans for The Patriot Act which made it all possible.
I would be MUCH more concerned if the CIA DIDN'T have these capabilities.
2
I've been asking this for years: WHERE are the WikiLeaks on PUTIN? Where are the WikiLeaks from/on ISIS and Al Qaida? I was happy to finally hear General M. Hayden say (the other day) something like, "...where are the leaks on Russia". Now (finally) it is being asked -> is WikiLeaks a Russian spy network?
And, maybe Trump is quiet because if Russian networks were leaked - he may be all over them.
And, maybe Trump is quiet because if Russian networks were leaked - he may be all over them.
2
I find the timing of this latest revelation interesting- just when DT is having major problems with the intelligence agencies.
DT says he loves wiki leaks when they helped him during the election -and he wasn't kidding. This is yet another piece of evidence that Putin and Assange are working with Trump. Propping up Trump is a sure fire way to destroy the USA.
DT says he loves wiki leaks when they helped him during the election -and he wasn't kidding. This is yet another piece of evidence that Putin and Assange are working with Trump. Propping up Trump is a sure fire way to destroy the USA.
4
Now, if Assange and Snowden can get together and hack Trump's tax return and then leak it through Wikileaks, well, that would really be something! Maybe leak transcripts of conversations between the Trump camp and the Putin camp!
Wake up, folks: you give your information freely to Amazon, Ebay, MSN, Aol, Gmail, you name it. Are you really so naive as to think a government can't get the same information? Any government? Plus, I expect my government to know what malevolent governments like the Russian and Chinese are doing. Snowden is helping the Russians along a great deal. Another fugitive. Huge score for Putin...
Wake up, folks: you give your information freely to Amazon, Ebay, MSN, Aol, Gmail, you name it. Are you really so naive as to think a government can't get the same information? Any government? Plus, I expect my government to know what malevolent governments like the Russian and Chinese are doing. Snowden is helping the Russians along a great deal. Another fugitive. Huge score for Putin...
4
How long has the NYTs known about the CIA's invasion of the USA? Probably for years—
1
Happy
How is it possible you DIDN'T know all this years ago?
Did you sleep through the USA Patriot Act wars?
Did you not hear about Cheney? About DARPA?
There's no surprise here. In fact, there's nothing that's not old hat.
In fact, there's nothing that wasn't dreamt up and fought for by the Bushy Republicans with the support of all those poor souls now going crazy on these pages.
As a good liberal, I would never imagine saying so out loud but deep in my perverse liberal heart I am saying it over and over again: "We told you so". This is what you wanted, quiet down and take it.
It must be tough to have a chance to blame Obama and further discredit the Intelligence community and to realize this all your own doing.
How is it possible you DIDN'T know all this years ago?
Did you sleep through the USA Patriot Act wars?
Did you not hear about Cheney? About DARPA?
There's no surprise here. In fact, there's nothing that's not old hat.
In fact, there's nothing that wasn't dreamt up and fought for by the Bushy Republicans with the support of all those poor souls now going crazy on these pages.
As a good liberal, I would never imagine saying so out loud but deep in my perverse liberal heart I am saying it over and over again: "We told you so". This is what you wanted, quiet down and take it.
It must be tough to have a chance to blame Obama and further discredit the Intelligence community and to realize this all your own doing.
As far as my America nominating Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as their presidential candidates; my country doesn’t need Assange’s or Putin’s approval or disapproval, neither do we need the worlds approval. We are free to pick among our choices for president, and among ‘anybody’ we may ever choose that would never amount to the likes of arrogant-Assange and scheming-Putin. I stand by American’s from both political parties ‘right’ to choose ‘both’ Clinton and Trump. It seems to me that we Americans chose these candidates for our political parties ‘because’ we ‘have faith’ in our Country, our Government, our Democracy and our Checks and Balances that we will be O.K. no matter what. We have the America-public-power, and we are all in control.
2
I found it funny how Wikileaks has nothing on Russia. All their leaks are one sided, Big Bad American Agencies doing nefarious things. Sure they do. How about the Russians? I find this highly suspect. Hey Julian, are you yet another Putin puppet? Thread carefully dude as your friend has no problem discarding people no longer useful.
4
"All their leaks are one sided, ..."
The Russians EXECUTE spies, so maybe there are no Russians willing to risk leaking documents to Wikileaks.
For more about the fate of Russians who have been caught spying for the US, see:
"Circle of treason : a CIA account of traitor Aldrich Ames and the men he betrayed"
by Sandra Grimes and Jeanne Vertefeuille.
The Russians EXECUTE spies, so maybe there are no Russians willing to risk leaking documents to Wikileaks.
For more about the fate of Russians who have been caught spying for the US, see:
"Circle of treason : a CIA account of traitor Aldrich Ames and the men he betrayed"
by Sandra Grimes and Jeanne Vertefeuille.
How about leaking something else from this side, say Trump's tax returns, or his hacked emails (must be some no?). You know... something that does not directly advance Russian's agenda of destabilizing US Agencies so they can have the freaking world for themselves.
1
So could the so called "Russian election hack" actually have been done by Obama's CIA?
I would not be surprised if Brennan, an Obama hack, did just that.
I would not be surprised if Brennan, an Obama hack, did just that.
3
Assuming that the information being leaked is accurate, literally billions of tax dollars have been spent building these tools/capacities. By it's very nature, national security work cannot be conducted in the public realm. This leak, and others, have rendered our investment worse than useless...we are actually educating our adversaries as to our methodological approach.
There are internal processes and systems in place to ring an alarm, when necessary. These leaks are neither limited in scope nor the act of a patriot. This borders on treason.
There are internal processes and systems in place to ring an alarm, when necessary. These leaks are neither limited in scope nor the act of a patriot. This borders on treason.
5
"... literally billions of tax dollars have been spent building these tools/capacities."
The article doesn't say anything about the budget for these projects, so how do you know that the amount is "literally billions" of dollars?
"This leak, and others, have rendered our investment worse than useless...we are actually educating our adversaries as to our methodological approach."
You are overreacting. The targets are people who carelessly leave their electronic devices unsecured, in a hotel room for example. See the CIA's own recommendations for device security:
"Do not leave anything electronic or sensitive unattended in your hotel room."
EDG Familiarization TDY
https://wikileaks.org/ciav7p1/cms/page_26607630.html
The article doesn't say anything about the budget for these projects, so how do you know that the amount is "literally billions" of dollars?
"This leak, and others, have rendered our investment worse than useless...we are actually educating our adversaries as to our methodological approach."
You are overreacting. The targets are people who carelessly leave their electronic devices unsecured, in a hotel room for example. See the CIA's own recommendations for device security:
"Do not leave anything electronic or sensitive unattended in your hotel room."
EDG Familiarization TDY
https://wikileaks.org/ciav7p1/cms/page_26607630.html
Again they use a bogey man "Russia, China or Eskimos" as cover for their illegal spying on all citizens and commercial espionage conducted against corporate competitors. The spying done by the CIA is being carried out against so called friendly nations such as Australia, France, and Germany. It seems the corrupt establishment seem intent on making the USA a global pariah. What a disgrace!
12
Anyone who believes the Republicans haven't been hacked as badly as the Democrats is only lying to themselves.
4
@Steve, the Republicans probably HAVE been hacked as "badly" as the Democrats. So what's REALLY your point?
Blaming this on the Russians as the Clinton campaign did last summer will not be gobbled up by a public that clearly sees operatives of the so called "deep state" as being behind this Orwellian scenario playing out within our intel agencies. These are Agencies that can no longer be trusted. Of course, deep state actors will be more than happy to hoodwink the faction of the Clinton loving left into believing that a foreign and villainous power is behind this.
14
You folks really do trust the Russians more than you do the US Federal Government.
3
When it looked like Trump was going to lose the election, Wikileaks punished Russian-supplied hacked emails that revealed the SHOCKING fact that DNC staffers were annoyed that Sanders wouldn't pull out of a primary race he'd already lost. Now that it's becoming hard to come up with a scenario that explains the evidence without concluding that Trump conspired with a foreign power to win the election, Wikileaks drops the SHOCKING discovery that our spy agencies have procedures in place to spy on people.
But yeah, sure, you can insist it's all Clinton's fault.
But yeah, sure, you can insist it's all Clinton's fault.
3
I find it strange when Americans adopt terms like "deep state," a phrase in wide use in Moscow to discredit American intelligence. I find it especially strange that the American right is adopting these Orwellian terms.
There certainly was Russian interference in the election. There may well have been collusion by the Trump campaign. Do these things bother you at all?
There certainly was Russian interference in the election. There may well have been collusion by the Trump campaign. Do these things bother you at all?
We should feel relieved that the CIA isn't employed by Putin. Our spies can beat Putin's any Day! Not only can we poke around Russian politics, hey, we can hack into every country's politics, including our own. Seriously, I'm amazed (and dismayed) over the cavalier manner some of these comments seem to display. The apparent acceptance of the CIA's intrusions alongside the outrage over Putin's is the pathetic height of hypocrisy.
11
The "CIA's intrusions" revealed here seem to be that a spy agency has developed procedures for spying. It's not that revelatory. Like the release of the DNC emails, what we're seeing is an amazing amount of hype about a ho-hum piece of information. When that happens, you have to wonder why. Or you would, if in both cases it hadn't come at a time when Trump and Putin would really like people to focus on something other than the fact that they probably conspired together to swing the US election to Trump.
3
Can anyone doubt that this latest release by Wikileaks is Russia's attempt to deflect their collusion with Trump to win the election? It says that the CIA has the capability of creating "fingerprints" to indicate that someone else (instead of them) hacked into whatever. This way, when it is proved that there were contacts, Trump will say that it is the US government, under the direction of President Obama, who had him "bugged," and made it LOOK like it was the Russians! It is all so easy to see through, but these are the unbelievably desperate times we are trying to live through.
10
Not only that but it adds fuel to the fire that the FBI, CIA aren't to be trusted. Then who are we left to trust but our President and his cockamamie ideas?
11
It's comforting to see that the CIA is keeping up with countries like Russia and China in the hacking game. Thanks for the warm fuzzy feelings Wikileaks!
3
The Russia card is proving to be a very effective vaccine against any serious reflection about the constitutional protections that can be undermined by this type of surveillance. There is nothing in the documents to suggest that Americans' communications are being targeted but also seemingly no reference to any constraints or legal procedures either.
4
And no new information. Is there anything here you DIDN'T think the CIA could do?
But a Trump/Putin conspiracy, if it happened, would be the biggest scandal in US history. And it's hard to explain the evidence we've seen in any plausible way except that it happened. Pointing out that the President appears to have colluded with a foreign power to steal the election is far more important than you portray it as being with the dismissive "Russian card" nonsense.
But a Trump/Putin conspiracy, if it happened, would be the biggest scandal in US history. And it's hard to explain the evidence we've seen in any plausible way except that it happened. Pointing out that the President appears to have colluded with a foreign power to steal the election is far more important than you portray it as being with the dismissive "Russian card" nonsense.
1
That's a really big "if". So far, where's the meat?
Gee, another conveniently timed "dump" by Wikileaks to distract from the previous news cycle of Russia interfering in our elections and Trumps claim of wiretapping. Hmmm...
6
Like many have already written, no one should be shocked at what was revealed as that is what the CIA does and is suppose to do (for better or worse and terribly worse if it has actually killed Americans like the reporter Mike Hastings) since it began as the OSS in WWII. And it is not like no other country is doing it as well. But with that said, what I find disconcerting is what former CIA boss Hayden told the BBC yesterday that no one knows at the moment how Assange got this information, and he is hoping that it wasn't from one of its 800,000 employees, for many of them are millineals who seem to have culturally different instincts when it comes to loyalty, secrecy, and transparency than older generations. And to me, that is scary. However, I think that now may be the time to get Snowden back from Russia and offer a pardon if he will again work for us to help with these leaks and just to better our system, much like what the FBI did with Frank Abagnale and his counterfeiting checks capabilities in the 1960s where through his expertise, he saved banks millions of dollars and also became a respected employee.
3
I think the origin of this data is important. Was it taken by another whistle-blower or did another power hack into the CIA servers? The highest priority now in cyber warfare should be the compete revamping of the systems of access and monitoring of this data. Everything leaves traces and access to data should be granular with specific access given on an as needed basis to only what is needed and immediately revoked afterwards. Indeed the data needed to be accessed should be sent to a virtual machine that pulls only the data requested and authorized, then sent to a sandboxed virtual machine terminal where every key is logged and the screen actions recorded. Then the sandbox should be deleted and wiped to zeros and ones. I understand the huge task this kind of monitoring requires but what is the use of classified data and programs if they are consistently revealed to a talented and determined adversary. The resources must be allocated to change the system and that goes double for system administrators who should never have system wide access as did Snowden. Additionally all classified files should be tagged as a non-copy resource, triggering an alert if any attempt is made to copy data. The screens should be protected against tempest attacks and no devices including smart phones should be allowed in the data areas. Furthermore tracking of all IP destinations on a classified LAN should be consistent and any suspicious access from unknown locations investigated.
3
I think Assange is a just a sensationalism artist, or might as well be. Do you remember when WikiLeaks exploited technology that that accused us of collecting Chancellor Merkel’s phone in a security scan in the Germany’s Capital area before President Obama visited? Our government cannot publicly defend itself with its ‘classified-systems’; our government might have collected her number to make any outside spying governments think it was a legitimate security scan ‘of Germany’s own’ that included her number to protect our own security system scans. The Government of Germany 'may have known' we were going to do it before we did; where they could ‘watch’ for our spying in a matter of ‘mutual trust’!
Blumenthal to Clapper: "Does the NSA spy on private citizens?"
Clapper: "No, not to MY knowledge."
Who believes James Clapper NOW? The liar who said he had "no" knowledge of Trump's phones being tapped.
Clapper: "No, not to MY knowledge."
Who believes James Clapper NOW? The liar who said he had "no" knowledge of Trump's phones being tapped.
9
If the word "Trump" is in a sentence, that's where you should attach the descriptor "liar." While he's not the only liar in the world, Trump currently holds the record.
Nobody appears to have any knowledge of Trump's phones being tapped. Trump's (and Breitbart's) claims fall under the category of "stupid conspiracy theory," not "knowledge."
Nobody appears to have any knowledge of Trump's phones being tapped. Trump's (and Breitbart's) claims fall under the category of "stupid conspiracy theory," not "knowledge."
2
Hey WikiLeaks! Could you release a few thousand F.B.I. Documents? Then we Americans could find out whether Obama really tapped Trump's phones.
But of course that would undermine your boy, Trump, wouldn't it.
Even the leakers are hypocrites.
But of course that would undermine your boy, Trump, wouldn't it.
Even the leakers are hypocrites.
5
Once again, Wiki leaks attacks the United States. And still we never hear from them about any skullduggery from, say, the Russians, or the Chinese, or even the North Koreans, heaven help us. Does Wiki leaks have some irrational disdain for a functioning (well, at least up until recently) democracy? They seem quite tolerant of authoritarian oligarchies of various stripes.
7
In their defense, Wikileaks doesn't ALWAYS attack the US.
They only do it when the press starts to seem interested in rooting out a conspiracy between Trump and Russia.
They only do it when the press starts to seem interested in rooting out a conspiracy between Trump and Russia.
2
For all us in the public know, If, scheming-Putin gave this to Assange to exploit; it may be that Putin might be going to use these codes, fake or not, to ‘spy on us’ during our Russian investigation, while pretending in front of the worldwide Intelligence Community that ‘he is us’ while he does it! Assange might have ‘helped’ Putin do this whether Putin gave this flash-of-the-pants collection to him or not! (Surely, most everybody has heard that you are not supposed to use actual words in passwords; do you really think that our government CIA has ‘actual words’ in codes, like Harry Potter? My guess is that these codes are, probably, fake, and more reflect Russia’s own intelligence capabilities to try to intimidate their people, our people, and the world. Would not Putin know how to provide ‘instructions’ for such spying technology and make it appear as our legitimate instructions?
Why does everything have to be online? Prior to the internet, people used to actually be able to do everything we do now without it being online, including classified operations and communications. I just know if I had a secret, I definitely wouldn't input it into a connected device.
Anyone that thinks they are not under continual surveillance is NAIVE. If the government wants to know what you are doing, the government "flips the switch" and VOILA--you are surveilled.
2
Hey, WikiLeaks, maybe you should watch an episode of 'Mr. Robot'. By your own admission if the CIA can make a hack look like it came from a foreign country or hackers what is to say that the reverse isn't true? And one more point to this news that isn't really news -this isn't news.
1
We shouldn't need Wikileaks to know there is no communication nor network secure from US government (USG) intrusion.
Automotive and household systems and appliances accessible from outside the vehicle have been developed with USG encouragement in order to ensure they can track or kill whomever they choose, whenever they choose, remotely. Anything that can be compromised has been compromised.
This leak has no effect on national security. Other nations already know this stuff. They're not children. Lucky for us there's a body of classified law we aren't allowed to read, aren't allowed to break, and that supersedes all the rights we think we have.
Automotive and household systems and appliances accessible from outside the vehicle have been developed with USG encouragement in order to ensure they can track or kill whomever they choose, whenever they choose, remotely. Anything that can be compromised has been compromised.
This leak has no effect on national security. Other nations already know this stuff. They're not children. Lucky for us there's a body of classified law we aren't allowed to read, aren't allowed to break, and that supersedes all the rights we think we have.
1
The only reason why Trump's team and the Republicans in congress are not talking about this latest trove of released C.I.A. documents, is because they don't want to stop a spying system that had been used for many years by the Republican administrations.
So this latest release of very sensitive documents that have been released by Wikileaks shows us clearly how far our intelligence agencies will go to encroach on people's privacy,in foreign countries as well as within our country's border.
And since Russian hackers were always outsmarting our intelligence communities' counter cyber warfare workers, the glimpses of which we saw with their hacking of our Democratic party's and Hillary's computers at will, we shouldn't be surprised if it turns out later on that it was Putin's hacking team once again who hacked into C.I.A. Headquarters' well guarded computers and squeezed out all the information including the minute details about how the codes that C.I.A. employees use to gather very sensitive information.
The fact that these Russian hackers could penetrate into the heart of our counter intelligence operations should tell Trump and his minutemen in not being so cozy with the Russians as they were before the election.
But their complete silence on this very damaging to our nation's counter intelligence operations, shows that the Trump administration do not think that they need to tell the Russians anything at all because of their close working relationship before the election.
So this latest release of very sensitive documents that have been released by Wikileaks shows us clearly how far our intelligence agencies will go to encroach on people's privacy,in foreign countries as well as within our country's border.
And since Russian hackers were always outsmarting our intelligence communities' counter cyber warfare workers, the glimpses of which we saw with their hacking of our Democratic party's and Hillary's computers at will, we shouldn't be surprised if it turns out later on that it was Putin's hacking team once again who hacked into C.I.A. Headquarters' well guarded computers and squeezed out all the information including the minute details about how the codes that C.I.A. employees use to gather very sensitive information.
The fact that these Russian hackers could penetrate into the heart of our counter intelligence operations should tell Trump and his minutemen in not being so cozy with the Russians as they were before the election.
But their complete silence on this very damaging to our nation's counter intelligence operations, shows that the Trump administration do not think that they need to tell the Russians anything at all because of their close working relationship before the election.
2
What's all the fuss? 40 years ago the CIA had state of the art tools for breaking and entering without leaving a trace. They were tools of the trade. Should they not have tools to break into today's secret places and thus leave cyber warfare to the Russians, Chinese, Andorrans, ... everybody else?
1
"What's all the fuss?"
The problem is that some of the hacks rely on vulnerabilities in consumer products that should be FIXED and not exploited. See the article:
'“Those vulnerabilities will be exploited not just by our security agencies, but by hackers and governments around the world,” Mr. Wizner said. “Patching security holes immediately, not stockpiling them, is the best way to make everyone’s digital life safer.”'
The problem is that some of the hacks rely on vulnerabilities in consumer products that should be FIXED and not exploited. See the article:
'“Those vulnerabilities will be exploited not just by our security agencies, but by hackers and governments around the world,” Mr. Wizner said. “Patching security holes immediately, not stockpiling them, is the best way to make everyone’s digital life safer.”'
1
The much bigger fuss is that Wikileaks always seems to dump information that they hype as a bombshell, but that isn't, whenever the press starts looking too closely at the likely conspiracy between Trump and Putin.
1
Is it actually news that the spy agency of the world's most powerful nation possesses the skill and knowledge to hack into technology? Wouldn't it be a little frightening if they COULDN'T?
3
How can anyone think they are NOT subject to surveillance? It is a given.
1
"... according to American intelligence agencies, Russia hacked Democratic targets during the presidential campaign ..." But according to the leaks, it is possible a rogue operative possessing the CIA software could have hacked Democratic targets and used Umbrage, as described in the leaks, to make it look like Russia did the hacking. I'm much more inclined to trust "moles" than intelligence agencies.
1
Wikileak's trolls are Putin's slaves. Nothing these bugs ever do hurts him or his empire. They are focused entirely on destroying the US. Assange and Ecuador that has shielded him for years must be punished severely as Putin tools.
2
If you don't believe Obama knew about wire-taping of TRUMP and his staff you are a kool-aid drinking fool.
4
Contrary to what we used to think, WikiLeaks was never a straight shooter. They concentrate on the US, Germans, Brits, etc. and ignore the Chinese and Russian intelligence apparatuses who work in even more sinister ways every day to impinge upon people's freedoms. That matters to me---especially now. We know that intelligence services are very adept at surveillance but I just can't get past the fact that WikiLeaks is compromised and so, just as German ingenuity during World War II was disregarded because of the way it was collected, I think that WikiLeaks should be treated similarly. How interesting that this "treasure trove" of information comes out just when Trump is under siege . They helped Trump steal the election and that matters. They have ulterior motives. They no longer have standing as far as I'm concerned.
3
Did anybody think before this, that the U.S. Government ‘didn’t’ have these kind of capabilities to spy and track terrorists, criminals and enemy spies? It seems to me that Julianne Assange needs to grow-up and accept the reality that surveillance-equipment exists instead of trying to exploit and sensationalize the modern technology of such processes.
Think about the fact that Assange exposing ‘instructions’ for how our government supposedly creates such technological capabilities only ‘educates’ hackers, and ‘other governments’ how to do this ‘same spying’! Therefore, how sincere do you think Assange really is in stopping this spying; it’s more like he and his organization want their ’15-months’ of fame.
Think about the fact that Assange exposing ‘instructions’ for how our government supposedly creates such technological capabilities only ‘educates’ hackers, and ‘other governments’ how to do this ‘same spying’! Therefore, how sincere do you think Assange really is in stopping this spying; it’s more like he and his organization want their ’15-months’ of fame.
When Donald Trump on a campaign platform suggested maybe the Russians can find Hillary Clinton's 30.000 lost emails, it was a joke.
When Hillary was overheard asking someone if we could take out (murder) Julian Asaign with a drone strike, she wasn't joking.
The NSA with complete access to everything you write, say, and search for can destroy anyone, Obama expanded the access of that data, clearly with nefarious intent.
When Hillary was overheard asking someone if we could take out (murder) Julian Asaign with a drone strike, she wasn't joking.
The NSA with complete access to everything you write, say, and search for can destroy anyone, Obama expanded the access of that data, clearly with nefarious intent.
4
Every horrible thing Trump has ever said, he's claimed it was a joke if enough people pointed out that it was horrible. That way his supporters can claim out loud that he was just joking while privately agreeing with his horrible views.
There is always tension between the security needs of the state and the civil liberties and privacy of its citizenry. And the tools described could indeed be used inappropriately. But they are also necessary to obtain intelligence needed to keep us safe.
Disclosure of this cyber toolbox kit does nothing to protect our civil liberties. What it does do is hurt the national security interests of the United States and those who rely upon us. Our adversaries and targets now know how we can get to them so they can take countermeasures to avoid penetration, just like terrorists changed their communications routines when Snowden published his tranche of cyber tool usage.
Supposedly this leak derived from one of a circle of a hundred or so CIA contractors, who apparently have been passing these tools back and forth between them for years. It is also indicative that two of the last three serious leaks have also come from contractors, which would seem to say that our vetting and supervision of these individuals is deficient. Which would also hint that, should they be that loosely chosen and reviewed, God knows what else they are using these tools for.
Why run the risk working for the Russians when you can simply leak your purloined product to Wikileaks which is working with them anyway? The person leaking this has committed something perilously close to treason and needs to be found and slapped in jail for a long time.
Disclosure of this cyber toolbox kit does nothing to protect our civil liberties. What it does do is hurt the national security interests of the United States and those who rely upon us. Our adversaries and targets now know how we can get to them so they can take countermeasures to avoid penetration, just like terrorists changed their communications routines when Snowden published his tranche of cyber tool usage.
Supposedly this leak derived from one of a circle of a hundred or so CIA contractors, who apparently have been passing these tools back and forth between them for years. It is also indicative that two of the last three serious leaks have also come from contractors, which would seem to say that our vetting and supervision of these individuals is deficient. Which would also hint that, should they be that loosely chosen and reviewed, God knows what else they are using these tools for.
Why run the risk working for the Russians when you can simply leak your purloined product to Wikileaks which is working with them anyway? The person leaking this has committed something perilously close to treason and needs to be found and slapped in jail for a long time.
2
This is clearly part of the Putin-backed war on Western democracy I write about here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/welcome-era-rising-democratic-fascism-ii-... It does not take a genius to figure this out, or to realize that Julian Assange is a partisan tool of the Kremlin (even if he may be deceiving himself that it is otherwise); Russia has incredible surveillance capability with few checks on it abuses, but we can be certain that Assange won't be publishing anything on the Russia's G.R.U. or F.S.B. and its spying techniques or activities; it is Western opponents of Russia that are being systematically targeted by WIkiLeaks and it will be interesting if we can figure out how this information was obtained, as this could be another chapter in the Russo-American Cyberwar I analyzed earlier in this piece: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/first-russo-american-cyberwar-how-obama-l...
10
NSA is out of control, but that's the way we are going and we are excepting it, instead of doing something about it. Lets hope America becomes the America that it should be and stop the Government from spying on everybody. Use the search engine that does not change its results for political reasons and respects your privacy, just good old fashion results that are not tracked. Lookseek.com The world is over as we once new it
"NSA is out of control, ..."
This article is about CIA documents. The NSA is a completely different agency.
This article is about CIA documents. The NSA is a completely different agency.
The message is clear: you can't trust manufacturers to provide security. Open-source is becoming a necessity. Hopefully, these leaks will help us build an interconnected world where each device is well-hardened against threats, and the user has full visibility and control.
2
"The message is clear: you can't trust manufacturers to provide security."
Some of the attacks requires physical access to install the implant. Physical security is not the responsibility of "manufacturers".
"Open-source is becoming a necessity."
That won't help. The CIA reverse engineers and attacks Linux-based systems, too. For example, Android phones and Samsung TVs use Linux-based firmware.
2017-03-08 14:04:20 UTC
Some of the attacks requires physical access to install the implant. Physical security is not the responsibility of "manufacturers".
"Open-source is becoming a necessity."
That won't help. The CIA reverse engineers and attacks Linux-based systems, too. For example, Android phones and Samsung TVs use Linux-based firmware.
2017-03-08 14:04:20 UTC
Isn't the CIA doing what it's supposed to do, spy?
5
Based on these comments, it seems obvious that the WikiLeaks release has a couple of impacts. The most obvious is that people assume that the CIA is spying on them. That might have been the purpose of the release. Attacking the intelligence agencies would legitimize President Trump's tweet and serve as a distraction.
It's disturbing that so much of the news coverage does little to raise the question of who was being monitored by these tools. This tactic divides the opposition to Donald Trump by peeling off those who have been concerned by the ability of the government to invade the privacy of citizens. These people exist along the political spectrum. The CIA is prohibited by law from investigating citizens here in the USA unless they are in contact with nationals from other countries. I fear the media is once again being distracted.
It's disturbing that so much of the news coverage does little to raise the question of who was being monitored by these tools. This tactic divides the opposition to Donald Trump by peeling off those who have been concerned by the ability of the government to invade the privacy of citizens. These people exist along the political spectrum. The CIA is prohibited by law from investigating citizens here in the USA unless they are in contact with nationals from other countries. I fear the media is once again being distracted.
4
Umm so the fact that that General Michael Hayden or James Clapper didn't at first come clean to the Congress of The United States means nothing?
2
Is this really news to so many people? Amazing. Of course they can, of course they do it. That unwashed, mentally unbalanced Australian rapist hiding in the Ecuadorian embassy is desperate. Really desperate. Let us keep him there with no internet. Life in prison in fancy Knightsbridge.
2
These leaks actually make us safer and the world a better place. They escalate the technology battle making our devices more secure and they also require the spy agencies to refine their bag of tricks.
3
This really is not news. I am glad for Wikileaks but if you see the movie "Snowden", all this information is there. Maybe we do have problems with Russia, but, more importantly, our own government is spying on us. This should worry us more. Kudos to Snowden, it took great courage for him to do what he did.
3
I uad a feeling Signal might not be totally safe.
How dissappointing that this could actually been coming from our CIA Dept and not Russia...If they can put fingerprints on a Hack, how do we know the Russian Hack didn't come from the CIA??
4
True. And what scares me is that on the BBC last night, former CIA chief Hayden said that loyalty, secrecy, and transparency are looked at differently by the millennials who are hired as they have culturally different instincts on these three than older generations. And to me, that could be a definite problem for us.
1
The CIA probably would not have tried to swing the election to Trump.
But that detail does provide an out for Trump supporters to continue to deny that he conspired with Russia and didn't legitimately win. Which, again, is a strong indication that Russia really is the source here.
But that detail does provide an out for Trump supporters to continue to deny that he conspired with Russia and didn't legitimately win. Which, again, is a strong indication that Russia really is the source here.
1
Like others, I don't find this "shocking". I would find it shocking if the CIA decided, oh well, we can't break into devices. May as well not try.
4
I do too, in a way as that IS part of the job of the CIA since its beginnings in WWII as OSS. AND if we think other countries are not doing the same thing as well, I have a bridge I want to sell sell you. But with that said, not good that this was released.
Let's face it: our spy agencies are spying on every one of us--especially its polical enemies, like Trump, and giving it (or selling it) to the highest "bidder), all for one thing: power. Yes, it is unfortunate that we have to find this out via leaks and rogue agents, but if anyone thinks that Big Brother is not watching everyone, in every way, all for the purpose of putting "...a boot, on your head, forever." (Orwell) he is sadly naive. As Pogo said, "We have seen the enemy, and it is us." It is not the Russians.
4
I feel that there's a bot-like similarity among many of these responses. IT experts have written of the algorithms and ghost social media accounts that are used to manufacture public opinion. It just strikes me as odd that instead of being alarmed, even outraged at the idea that the CIA might be bugging your house through your TV, these top comments focus on smearing Assange and trying to link him to Russia -- which is utterly unsubstantiated. This level of logical disconnection and breathless attack doesn't strike me as characteristic of actual NYT readers.
3
"This level of logical disconnection and breathless attack doesn't strike me as characteristic of actual NYT readers."
Obviously you don't read NYT comments often then. But yeah, the fact they can spy using our TVs too is very disturbing and disgusting. Something's gotta be done about it.
Obviously you don't read NYT comments often then. But yeah, the fact they can spy using our TVs too is very disturbing and disgusting. Something's gotta be done about it.
1
The revelation that spy agencies spy isn't a revelation.
The fact that Wikileaks releases a non-revelatory "revelation" every time people start to pay too much attention to the likely conspiracy between Putin and Trump really is more important.
The fact that Wikileaks releases a non-revelatory "revelation" every time people start to pay too much attention to the likely conspiracy between Putin and Trump really is more important.
1
I stopped reading when the Times took on the FALSE Russian narrative, blaming the Russians not only for the Democratic party hacks, but the WikiLeaks source. It's nothing more than the CIA DEEP STATE, trying to cover it's butt for spying upon the American people.
This Russian narrative by both Republicans and Democrats is LUNACY.
There has been ZERO proof that the Russians did anything. But blaming them does two things simultaneously: covers the corruption of a government that serves the rich Zionists it represents, while preparing us for nuclear conflict or another cold war with Russia.
THINK about why this is completely plausible. The Times works on behalf of the government corruption in power. If anyone believes this government is not spying on you, you're nuts
This Russian narrative by both Republicans and Democrats is LUNACY.
There has been ZERO proof that the Russians did anything. But blaming them does two things simultaneously: covers the corruption of a government that serves the rich Zionists it represents, while preparing us for nuclear conflict or another cold war with Russia.
THINK about why this is completely plausible. The Times works on behalf of the government corruption in power. If anyone believes this government is not spying on you, you're nuts
5
Why shouldn't Donny and Putin expose the LIES of the DEEP STATE. It was Bill Clinton and Russ Feingold, co-founders of Al=Qaeda, who wrote the Patriot Act and put us here.
3
Shouldn't any article referencing WikiLeaks include the descriptor, "A front for Russian intelligence?" Perhaps it's unnecessary. It is redundant.
4
So no one has ever brought any embarrassing or damaging documents out of Russia to Wikileaks? I see a pattern here.
4
Which way is the wind blowing now, President Trump? Put your finger up and test the wind, then make a statement...
2010: "I think it's disgraceful, I think there should be like death penalty or something," Trump statement regarding WikiLeaks' release of documents from Pfc. Bradley Manning.
Oct 2016: Statements by Trump:
“I love WikiLeaks. It’s amazing how nothing is secret today when you talk about the Internet.”
“Wikileaks is amazing. And you see, and you see so much from these Wikileaks. You see so much. There’s so much.”
“I’ll tell you this Wikileaks stuff is unbelievable. It tells you the inner heart, you gotta read it and you gotta maybe get it because they’re not putting it out. And one of the big advantages of me having a rather large microphone, and meaning a lot of people are listening, is that I can talk about Wikileaks and we are live, it’s amazing. Boom boom boom.”
“The sad part is we don’t talk about Wikileaks because it’s incredible. But Wikileaks just came out with a lot of new ones. And it would be wonderful if these very dishonest people back there would talk about it. It would be wonderful. It would be wonderful.”
“We’ve learned so much from Wikileaks.”
“We love Wikileaks. Wikileaks. They have revealed a lot.”
March 7, 2017: Leaks “are threatening our national security.” (Sean Spicer)
2010: "I think it's disgraceful, I think there should be like death penalty or something," Trump statement regarding WikiLeaks' release of documents from Pfc. Bradley Manning.
Oct 2016: Statements by Trump:
“I love WikiLeaks. It’s amazing how nothing is secret today when you talk about the Internet.”
“Wikileaks is amazing. And you see, and you see so much from these Wikileaks. You see so much. There’s so much.”
“I’ll tell you this Wikileaks stuff is unbelievable. It tells you the inner heart, you gotta read it and you gotta maybe get it because they’re not putting it out. And one of the big advantages of me having a rather large microphone, and meaning a lot of people are listening, is that I can talk about Wikileaks and we are live, it’s amazing. Boom boom boom.”
“The sad part is we don’t talk about Wikileaks because it’s incredible. But Wikileaks just came out with a lot of new ones. And it would be wonderful if these very dishonest people back there would talk about it. It would be wonderful. It would be wonderful.”
“We’ve learned so much from Wikileaks.”
“We love Wikileaks. Wikileaks. They have revealed a lot.”
March 7, 2017: Leaks “are threatening our national security.” (Sean Spicer)
4
The White House has been turned into an insane asylum with a lunatic and his minions running the country! We are without any doubt at the horrible risk of losing our democratic country and are in a pre-slave condition with the help of the so-called and illegitimately elected President to being completely under Russian control with the depraved vicious and degenerate WIkileaks that publishes governmental secrets that may or may not be true, often made up in order to interject chaos into various societies that gives no hard evidence for their declarations. We the people are just as often fooled by the sensationalism and we need to get our mental state in order. It is our responsibility to save our nation!
2
"Foreign power is much more likely the source of these documents than a conscience-stricken C.I.A. whistle-blower,” claims a source. I believe that to find one person finding ethical problems with such activities of the government every two or three years is highly probable. There are most likely more employees with access to secret information whose motivation is monetary and who are willing to sell certain information to foreign governments and businesses both foreign and domestic.
1
Just in case any malware predators out there didn't have any of these tools to prey on us with, thanks so much, WikiLeaks, for giving them more ammo. Really done us a favor.
2
Though Assange can disappear out of thin air and I would not give a hoot (literally), I am a firm believer in the safety and protection of this nation. Assange is a National Security Risk as well as Snowden and both should be treated as such. The same goes if an American travels to the Musilm world to commit terror against the U.S. A hellfire missile should be specifically placed where the sun don't shine. Both are a national security risk. I prefer the government (CIA et al.)to protect us for those near misses we do not even know about. Actually, I am grateful for the alphabet agencies because even aftrer 9/11, if I choose to walk oblivious to what is going on in the world because I want the drama turned off to take a chill pill and relax from it. Granted, I am not stupid. Because of my specific studies, I know about N. Korea, Russia, Iran, and Syria. I am one of the few who are against Assange and Snowden and think that since they are in all honesty a National Security risk then this nation needs to take care of the problem quickly and quieitly. Stop allowing this cancer to fester and metastasize after it goes into remission. On another note, the CIA could have known about the hacking before it occured and allowed it to occur so that disinformation and misinformation is released and now are adversaries are confused or are believing the black propaganda, thereby, misinterpreting the moves of the pentagon and its power behind our troops.
Just like the last time, Wikileaks is putting out unvetted material with the sources unidentified. And just like the last time, whatever can be hacked can be altered, deleted or created from moonbeams. Wikileaks started as freedom fighters but devolved into opportunists. Assange is no Snowden.
34
David, please tell (petition) the American Government to subsidize Wikileaks (perhaps) to the tune of ONE trillion dollars a year for carrying out vetting of the information they receive. Spy agencies tel us they PROTECT us from BAD actors, but Wikileaks protects us and "others" from the excessive zeal of our own BAD actors.
2
The anti-Russian story has become a kind of intellectual poison among Trump-haters. Especially insane is the idea that Julian Assange is or wants to be Putin's tool. Assange hates all controlling, secretive states. During the campaign he said the choice between Clinton and Trump was like the choice between gonorrhea and syphilis. If anyone were to provide him with hacked documents from Russia or China, I'm sure they too would be published. He did put up a whole trove of stuff from Turkey. The media wasn't interested. Wikileaks doesn't hack. They publish.
5
But someone sure seems to be sending them stuff to publish every time the news starts talking too much about the apparent conspiracy between Trump and Russia.
I object to their description as an anti-secrecy organization. That is now debatable given their bias towards POTUS.
1
The release has ZERO to do with Trump just as the release of emails had zero to do with the Russians hacking into the DNC. The corruption of government, however has much to do with BOTH.
1
Trump supporters can claim the timing is coincidental, but Wikileaks sure seems to reliably dump information (and hype it as being far more shocking than it really is) every time people start talking too much about the Trump/Russia conspiracy that seems to have happened.
Has everyone forgotten Seth Richards, the former DNC IT who was killed a few days after the DNC hack? Was his murder a cover up of the DNC attack?
5
The silver lining is that Apple will surely get a look at these techniques, and make their products a bit stronger. In the mean time, how long before the WikiLeaks guys wake up with a knuckle sandwich in their face, or worse?
How long before you do when nuclear bombs, provoked by our corrupt government and the MIC, drop at your doorstep? The ignorance here is astounding
I'm usually not a conspiracy theorist but as Kurt Vonnegut once wrote in Breakfast of Champions......There are no such things as coincidences.
3
We on the left have to admit that in the good old days before Trump and Russia, we would have likely applauded this revelation - back when it was a binary battle for transparency and privacy. We defended Snowden for similar things and Wikileaks too when it made Bush and his wars look bad.
But wikileaks deafening silence with authoritarian regimes in recent years makes a joke of their original mission of transparency. the obvious conclusion is that Assange is n the bag for Putin for one reason or another. Let's see him disprove it by publishing equal dirt on Russia - but don't hold your breath.
It seems many commenters' stance on the transparency issue is being colored by their stance on Trump/Putin. But two things can be true at once: this revelation can be good for transparency while also raising more alarm at how effective Russia's soft war on the west is, and how Trump represents a major victory for Putin.
But wikileaks deafening silence with authoritarian regimes in recent years makes a joke of their original mission of transparency. the obvious conclusion is that Assange is n the bag for Putin for one reason or another. Let's see him disprove it by publishing equal dirt on Russia - but don't hold your breath.
It seems many commenters' stance on the transparency issue is being colored by their stance on Trump/Putin. But two things can be true at once: this revelation can be good for transparency while also raising more alarm at how effective Russia's soft war on the west is, and how Trump represents a major victory for Putin.
2
The Russian narrative, readily accepted with ZERO credible proof, has Americana lining up behind their corrupt government and the military industrial complex.
3
Uh, Trump's campaign has been in frequent, secret contact with Russia. Russia intervened in the election to swing it to Trump. Trump has publicly supported Russia to an astounding degree for a Republican politician.
Those are all facts. How do you explain them, if you want to deny "the Russian narrative"?
Those are all facts. How do you explain them, if you want to deny "the Russian narrative"?
1
So? Not news: Russia/Wikileaks spy on us; and Intel has resources for spying. What a revelation!
1
Russia! Russia! Russia! The Russian narrative is LUNACY and an attempt by this government to cover up its corruption and as war propaganda. Reading your comment is exactly the reaction I see that is the result of so much ignorance in this country
2
What's "LUNACY" about the fact that Trump's campaign was in frequent, secret contact with Russia, that Russia intervened in the US election to swing it to Trump, and that Trump pushed the GOP into a pro-Russia platform? All those are facts. And attempting to explain them in a way that doesn't lead to a conspiracy between Trump and Putin is probably lunacy, but pointing out the facts sure isn't.
But our probably-illegitimate President seems to agree with you that capitalizing lies makes them true.
But our probably-illegitimate President seems to agree with you that capitalizing lies makes them true.
1
The timing of this is very interesting. Unless people read the small print that these methods are aimed at foreign powers not Americans, it could appear to give spurious weight to Trumps un-evidenced Tweets from early Monday morning. Even though it is still true that a POTUS cannot request such an action on a US citizen.
1
I wonder why Wikileaks never has any Russian or Chinese secrets to share?
4
Maybe because they are not invested in covering up the corruption of government in a democratic society and this government has MUCH to hide
3
Maybe because Russia and China aren't making war all over the place, and don't have military bases all over the world. The USA is by far the most dangerous nation on the planet in terms of innocent people being killed.
1
Maybe this should be added to the list for the panel looking at the Russia ties, Obama tap etc. It all seems a little too neat, tidy and timely to me. One of Trump's favorite sites assisting the foes and terrorists against the US is a concern for everybody. Not the fact that the CIA might be monitoring what you are discussing to have for breakfast as I believe they operate offshore and leave this to the FBI. Personally, if either the CIA or FBI felt strongly enough that I was doing something or corresponding with somebody with bad intentions it would not worry me because they would be doing their job.
1
Wikileaks is the technofied version of Breitbart, Fox news and our current White House. Obfuscation is the name of the game, we are the pawns moved haphazardly until knocked off the board.
2
No it isn't. But its easier to blame a truth teller about neoliberal corruption and deep state elite policies, than the lies in allegations used to cover it up, right?
3
"Deep state" has become a reliable marker of a Trump supporter who doesn't know what he (or in this case she) is talking about but will go down defending the indefensible.
Wikileaks spills something obvious but presents it as a huge revelation every time people are talking too much about all the evidence suggesting a conspiracy between Trump and Russia. It's like clockwork.
Wikileaks spills something obvious but presents it as a huge revelation every time people are talking too much about all the evidence suggesting a conspiracy between Trump and Russia. It's like clockwork.
Wikileaks needs to be put out of business.
1
Why? Did you bother to even read the leaks? Not ONE individual has been able to say that these leaks are not genuine without looking FOOLISH.
2
'“I think a foreign power is much more likely the source of these documents than a conscience-stricken C.I.A. whistle-blower,” Mr. Lewis said.' I believe this is known as 'damage control' ; in the event matters that one wished to keep secret are revealed, rather than discussing the revelations themselves, attempt to turn the discourse into one on who the 'real' leakers may be ; cf the manner in which the leaks from the DNC and the Clinton campaign have been handled. When in doubt, blame the Russians....
Henri
Henri
2
Did you not know that spy agencies spied? This is less a revelation of secrets than an attempt to shift the conversation away from the increasingly certain conspiracy between Trump and Russia.
Ecuador continues to give sanctuary to Assange. Every sanction in the book should be thrown at them until they release him to authorities.
1
I wonder why Wikileaks doesn't leak information from Russia or China or other countries if it's leak is so powerful. There must be some other motivation other than wanting to undermine American politics. I wonder what it is....
1
Ross, you are still playing old Republican "checkers". Trump is playing chess.
Trump's a strategic genius.
By putting out a plan problematic for both Democrats & Republicans and stating up front the entire healthcare overhaul will have three "phases", Trump insures there'll be plenty of room to negotiate, and get a buy in from all sides.
A major reason no Republican voted for ACA is because Obama shut the GOP out of the process from the get go. Comments like "Elections have consequences" and "I won" killed any opportunity for negotiation.
That won't happen with Trump.
The master negotiator will make sure that everyone, Republican and Democrat, has a real chance to help write and shape the new healthcare program.
And by using the three phases approach, Trump gets to leverage not only the content of each phase, but also leverage the three phases against each other, so that any lawmaker who doesn't get what he/she wants in one phase, will still vote for it based on assurances they will get what they want in another phase.
It's the "Art of the deal" and President Trump has been doing it for 50 years.
Trump's a strategic genius.
By putting out a plan problematic for both Democrats & Republicans and stating up front the entire healthcare overhaul will have three "phases", Trump insures there'll be plenty of room to negotiate, and get a buy in from all sides.
A major reason no Republican voted for ACA is because Obama shut the GOP out of the process from the get go. Comments like "Elections have consequences" and "I won" killed any opportunity for negotiation.
That won't happen with Trump.
The master negotiator will make sure that everyone, Republican and Democrat, has a real chance to help write and shape the new healthcare program.
And by using the three phases approach, Trump gets to leverage not only the content of each phase, but also leverage the three phases against each other, so that any lawmaker who doesn't get what he/she wants in one phase, will still vote for it based on assurances they will get what they want in another phase.
It's the "Art of the deal" and President Trump has been doing it for 50 years.
1
Not sure what any of that's got to do with Wikileaks.
And if Trump is such a dealmaker, I'd have expected fewer bankruptcies. He's the guy who's born on third base and spends his whole life patting himself on the back for hitting a triple.
And if Trump is such a dealmaker, I'd have expected fewer bankruptcies. He's the guy who's born on third base and spends his whole life patting himself on the back for hitting a triple.
Wikileaks appears to be an enemy of the state after all.
Is the information they release stolen properly or not?
If the press is the enemy of the people then Wikileaks is clearly... never mind, this is too confusing.
Is the information they release stolen properly or not?
If the press is the enemy of the people then Wikileaks is clearly... never mind, this is too confusing.
1
If this is all true, it sadly makes the United States look more and more like Stalinist Russia, where its citizens had to be constantly monitored and foreign citizens spied upon. And now Trump. These are signs of weakness, not real strength. Please think carefully about where your country is heading, a country that supposedly symbolizes liberty and democracy.
Wow. So, let me make sure I understand: the TV is actually watching my husband (and the cat) watching golf? That's creepy.
1
Trump ally dumps info, classic misdirection by Russians.
1
WikiLeaks is just the messenger, people bring them their files and WikiLeaks publishes them, if we shut down WikiLeaks someone else will provide the service. The problem is the new someone may not have the same interest or talent to redact sensitive code allowing these programs to spread like wildfire and that would be a nightmare.
1
You're all kidding right? Surprise! Then you must have missed George Orwell's 1984 in English lit class. And I don't care when you were born, it was published in 1949. Didn't quite predict technology as it is now but technology seems to have brought that "vision" to reality. It's a reality we would never have wanted but have brought upon ourselves. Now where's that Victory Gin when I need it...Oh and keep those Facebook posts coming...because that information isn't used for anything...really.
1
I've had it with Assange. It's pretty obvious the information regarding Trump. mpaign and Russia was heating up. Now we have dead Russians who were in a position to know about Trump and Putin, an illegitimate president who tweets an unbelievable lie about OBAMA with no proof, and suddenly Assange trying to wreck the opinion we have of our intelligence agencies. There are so many other things connected with this Trump Putin coup it is dizzying. Please, please, please throw ever ounce of investigation power of the media, and even more, to bring this evil administration down.
2
Roger Stone, a former Trump adviser, sent a message on Twitter saying he had a “perfectly legal back channel” to WikiLeaks’ founder, Julian Assange. Stone then deleted the message. It is obvious that Wikileaks has not released any information about Russia (the paradise of hackers apparently) or about Trump. Is it a strange coincidence? Too much of a coincidence to be one. The timing is also suspect. We should really worry about the source of Wikileaks.
2
How about Wikileaks does something useful and releases President Trump's tax returns? I'd like to see Anonymous step up and earn their pay as well.
5
Well isn't it good to know there are some really smart guys working in government when the White House is full of dummies?
"No evidence that the C.I.A. hacking tools have been used against Americans"?So in other words, there is also no evidence that these tools have not been used against Americans?
1
Just wondering how such 'leaks' affect the CIA or other agencies? Do they get more powers, more budget, are more laws passed to 'protect' these agencies? In fact, one begins to think if this is actually what these leakages are designed to do. Well, 'who' knows!
Once again we are shocked by the obvious. Here's what will likely remain a fair guide to the intelligence services: If they can do it, they will. It is why oversight is so critical. I'm not going to conclude that they shouldn't be doing these things. I don't want us to be competitive with the rest of the world in these things - I want us to be far superior. Don't you? It is no different than the military. We want overwhelming superiority which is only possible with secrecy, and coupled with civilian oversight.
1
Lacking proper control and oversight, this is what an out of control government does. We need the hackers to provide the ultimate check on government from this Orwellian slippery slope, because the government does much more than just use this technology on "enemies" as we are already well aware. They use it against environmentalist, anticorporatist protesters, and civil liberties champions like the ACLU. Look at the dark history of covert operations, they even did it to Martin Luther King and John Lennon. The government isn't your friend, it's only desire is to collect more power and thus it becomes corrupt. This is why our political system is a shambles and the US is low on the list of world democracies.
3
I am, still, utterly disappointed that this ridiculous story is still the headline of the New York Times. I am seriously considering cancelling my subscription. Meanwhile, Trump continues to gut our democracy, gleeful that Wikileaks and Putin's minions are in full support.
2
“One of the strengths that makes America exceptional is our willingness to openly confront our past, face our imperfections, make changes and do better. Rather than another reason to refight old arguments, I hope that today's report can help us leave these techniques where they belong—in the past.”
Obama said this not for upholding any lofty ideal but he had realized sitting in Presidential chair that CIA, the deep state, has a stranglehold on every aspect running America including the White house.
A tragic truth Trump is painfully being reminded almost every day.
"No nation is perfect. But one of the strengths that makes America exceptional is our willingness to openly confront our past" a,most hypocritical statement coming from Obama, when it's realize that the American Presidents are mere puppets, virtual prisoners of the Deep State. ,
"Will the Deep State ride on the back of the American people from failure to failure until the country itself, despite its huge reserves of human and material capital, is slowly exhausted? The dusty road of empire is strewn with the bones of former great powers that exhausted themselves in like manner" Essay: Anatomy of the Deep State by Mike Lofgren
Obama said this not for upholding any lofty ideal but he had realized sitting in Presidential chair that CIA, the deep state, has a stranglehold on every aspect running America including the White house.
A tragic truth Trump is painfully being reminded almost every day.
"No nation is perfect. But one of the strengths that makes America exceptional is our willingness to openly confront our past" a,most hypocritical statement coming from Obama, when it's realize that the American Presidents are mere puppets, virtual prisoners of the Deep State. ,
"Will the Deep State ride on the back of the American people from failure to failure until the country itself, despite its huge reserves of human and material capital, is slowly exhausted? The dusty road of empire is strewn with the bones of former great powers that exhausted themselves in like manner" Essay: Anatomy of the Deep State by Mike Lofgren
1
I would be disappointed if the CIA did NOT have such tools. The CIA is a spy agency. It is supposed to spy. It is the job of the President to direct the CIA against external threats rather than his own people. It is the job of Congress to provide oversight to make sure CIA stays within its mandate of limiting its activities to outside the United States and not be used for domestic purposes.
Our problem is not that CIA has the tools to do its job. Our problem is we have a President and Congress that we cannot trust to do theirs.
Our problem is not that CIA has the tools to do its job. Our problem is we have a President and Congress that we cannot trust to do theirs.
1
The CIA is unauthorized to conduct domestic surveillance. If they adhere to that bylaw, then this is an attack by Wikileaks on America requiring a full retaliatory response ( channeling JFK). If these programs are used against everyone in America, Wikileaks should tell us because if not, they are giving aid and comfort and Assange will be 90 before he is free to go. I have no inside info, but Hacks into Yahoo! and a firearms company have given criminals my drivers license scan, firearms permit scan, email addresses, home addresses, phone number and messages where I talk dirty to...well nearly everyone. I receive 5 bogus calls a day from everywhere and at least one begins, "The FBI...says that X% of home break ins occur when you are 10 miles from home." I get this call when I have just locked the front door of my house and driven 10 miles from home. This has been going on for 4 years. No, it's not proof of anything. Between the news and the calls, is it unreasonable to wonder what the heck they want, are they fishing all of us, poking us to see if we growl.
Apparently this leak happened when the last Administration was in-charge. Looks like CIA can get others' secrets efficiently but is unable to guard it's own secrets.
I think we all need confirmation from the C.I.A.
Let's call them by the tens of millions and ask them if they are spying on us.
Nothing wrong with that; they work for us, right?
Let's call them by the tens of millions and ask them if they are spying on us.
Nothing wrong with that; they work for us, right?
Reporting the duty!
In the last few months something curious has occurred. When I am on the computer, I think when I exit windows, a quick flash of a screen illuminates me.
I removed the webcam.
In the last few months something curious has occurred. When I am on the computer, I think when I exit windows, a quick flash of a screen illuminates me.
I removed the webcam.
1
"I removed the webcam."
Good idea. If you have a laptop, cover the camera lens with a piece of foil, and, if possible, disable the camera in the BIOS.
Good idea. If you have a laptop, cover the camera lens with a piece of foil, and, if possible, disable the camera in the BIOS.
And this must mean that "Russia hacked the election", since "17 intelligence agencies " say that is so.
NOT!
"the large number of techniques allows the C.I.A. to mask the origin of some of its attacks and confuse forensic investigators."
NOT!
"the large number of techniques allows the C.I.A. to mask the origin of some of its attacks and confuse forensic investigators."
These leaks happened on Trump's watch. So where is he? Why he's vacationing on our dime at Mar-a-Largo when instead he should be working in Washington.
Hey Trump, yea you. You have responsibilities and duties that come with the office. It's about time you buckled down and stopped goofing around.
Hey Trump, yea you. You have responsibilities and duties that come with the office. It's about time you buckled down and stopped goofing around.
1
These had nothing to do with Mr. trump. This happened under Obama, Clinton and Brennan's watch. And we are supposed to believe that the Obama administration did not have surveillance of Mr. Trump during the campaign? What will it take for Americans and the NYT to begin to assess the news from all sides, search for and reveal and discuss the truth as they find it and stop hiding behind their political prejudices?
2
Great.
Now, one of the agencies that help keep our country safe, has lost it's advantage to every enemy we have.
Good work.
Now, one of the agencies that help keep our country safe, has lost it's advantage to every enemy we have.
Good work.
2
Obviously, the Russian Oligarchy with Wikileaks (this data dump) and Trump (Obama tweets) want the press distracted from the Putin - Trump campaign collusion investigation (and the latest New Yorker article on the Trump Organization's involvement with an Azerbaijani dictator). Their aim is to give Trump cover to lift the sanctions Obama was able to smite the Russians with. I bet the course of the public discussion preferred by the Russians would be that the Orange One gets Snowden as a gift, the Russians bomb around in Syria a bit and then the Orange One lifts the sanctions for Exxon and Rosnjeft. Oil prizes go then up after an American attack on Iran. I'm all for giving the Russians the Crimea (nobody talks about Tibet anymore, either, after all) - but not like this. Do not be distracted. We need these tax returns.
2
I am trying to figure out the news here. That the CIA was hacked? (Not good.) That the CIA has these tools? (I thought we knew that, so I am wondering why it is the headline.) That WikiLeaks is still going after U.S. government agencies? (Dang!) That there is no guarantee of privacy in the connected age of social media and internet tv? (Got it.)
The article calls the hack-and-leak "a serious blow to the CIA." Other than the embarrassment, how so? Does this information help those the CIA is monitoring evade that surveillance? Why is it troubling to the tech world that Apple and Android phones can be "compromised?" Wouldn't it be more troubling to terrorists?
This breathless reporting is all over the place.
The article calls the hack-and-leak "a serious blow to the CIA." Other than the embarrassment, how so? Does this information help those the CIA is monitoring evade that surveillance? Why is it troubling to the tech world that Apple and Android phones can be "compromised?" Wouldn't it be more troubling to terrorists?
This breathless reporting is all over the place.
But, but, but President Trump loves Wikileaks.
He was encouraging them and Russians and anyone else who could help him win. Besides, he thinks intelligence is stupid.
Just look how Stupid everything is. They'll get it anyway so the incompeten nitwit will open the gates, just like he did with Putin.
He was encouraging them and Russians and anyone else who could help him win. Besides, he thinks intelligence is stupid.
Just look how Stupid everything is. They'll get it anyway so the incompeten nitwit will open the gates, just like he did with Putin.
If the CIA or any other agency hacked into my email or other computer stuff they would be so bored they would fall asleep at the mouse within a few minutes. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Like Mr. Lewis, I am inclined to think the original hack was Russian; they are the only winners in putting this on the web and the timing appears meant to distract Americans from the trouble President Trump has caused himself by falsely accusing former President Obama of spying on Tump and his campaign.
It shows the Deep State to be quit4 shallow. I expect that the WIKI;EAKS story that this stuff has been circulating widely among contractors is a false flag, meant to cause a counter-espionage witch hunt among enterprises on whom the intel community has unwisely come to depend.
Whatever the case. it its a vivid demonstration of the incompetence of the CIA's Inspector Genera, which went all fluttery at the opportunity to exist facto-classify a few of HillaryClinton's e-mails which don't amount to a hill of beans compared to the exposure what appears to be a CIA tool kit.
It also confirms that the classification system is broken. too much top secret stuff and far too many top secret clearances.
It shows the Deep State to be quit4 shallow. I expect that the WIKI;EAKS story that this stuff has been circulating widely among contractors is a false flag, meant to cause a counter-espionage witch hunt among enterprises on whom the intel community has unwisely come to depend.
Whatever the case. it its a vivid demonstration of the incompetence of the CIA's Inspector Genera, which went all fluttery at the opportunity to exist facto-classify a few of HillaryClinton's e-mails which don't amount to a hill of beans compared to the exposure what appears to be a CIA tool kit.
It also confirms that the classification system is broken. too much top secret stuff and far too many top secret clearances.
All of the commenters crowing on about 'safety' and 'Russia' are incredibly disheartening. They probably self-identify as liberals, even though in reality they are as ardently nationalist, partisan and pro-establishment as any conservative (and make no doubt about it: when it comes to the big issues of finance, governance and 'loyalty' mainstream Democrats are deeply conservative).
Where is the outrage that the 'land of the free' is no more? Who but the 'fringe' is going to stand up for what little is left of our democracy and civil liberties?
Make no doubt about it. The median commenter here (wealthy, older, Democrat) would support a pseudo-dictator just as rapidly as any Republican. They are fundamentally part of the problem.
Where is the outrage that the 'land of the free' is no more? Who but the 'fringe' is going to stand up for what little is left of our democracy and civil liberties?
Make no doubt about it. The median commenter here (wealthy, older, Democrat) would support a pseudo-dictator just as rapidly as any Republican. They are fundamentally part of the problem.
2
I am heading now to my Samsung "smart" TV and see how I can send a message to the hackers. And then take a wikileak and goto bed.
During the election I vocally supported the Clinton Wikileak, and personally thought the idea of Russian hacking was something the Democrats had made up to justify their loss.
That changed when I read about Oleg Erovinki's murder and both Ruslan Stoyanov and Sergei Mikhailov's arrest and the Treason charges against them. In addition both Lindsey Graham and John McCain seemed to agree with the Russian theory, and that helped me change my mind.
Now this CIA leak. My libertarian friends who are extrememly privacy minded have been going crazy over them. A lot of what they say the leak contains is probably hyperbole. That said there seems to be something indicating the CIA regularily using Russian credentials and meta data to hide their own deeds.
Recently there have been all sorts of Deep State conspiracy chatter. And this trove of CIA docs comes out right now. With conveinient colaboration to Trump conspiracy theories. So suspicious. Obviously Russia.
Though I do hope all of this dissuades the FBI from their plans for Backdoors into cell phones. If the FBI has such a magic tool, the Russians inevitably will too.
That changed when I read about Oleg Erovinki's murder and both Ruslan Stoyanov and Sergei Mikhailov's arrest and the Treason charges against them. In addition both Lindsey Graham and John McCain seemed to agree with the Russian theory, and that helped me change my mind.
Now this CIA leak. My libertarian friends who are extrememly privacy minded have been going crazy over them. A lot of what they say the leak contains is probably hyperbole. That said there seems to be something indicating the CIA regularily using Russian credentials and meta data to hide their own deeds.
Recently there have been all sorts of Deep State conspiracy chatter. And this trove of CIA docs comes out right now. With conveinient colaboration to Trump conspiracy theories. So suspicious. Obviously Russia.
Though I do hope all of this dissuades the FBI from their plans for Backdoors into cell phones. If the FBI has such a magic tool, the Russians inevitably will too.
So many stupid comments overloooking this got worse on Barry's watch. Wise up! We need to reign in our shadow government and these leaks are giving us the tools to do it. I hope President Trump and our Republican Congress will finally wrestle back control and clean house within our intelligence community.
Russian espionage via Essange to benefit Trump? Sounds familiar. This time the slander is directed at the CIA because the CIA has the treason dirt on Twitler, Sessions, Tillerson and the rest of the Putin worshipers in Bannon's White Only House. Expect a tidal wave of slander attempting to whitewash what everybody already knows, especially Paranoid POTUS: The jig is up. Special prosecutor NOW!
1
The timing of WikiLeaks' release is highly suspicious, right after Trump accused President Obama of wire-tapping his phones. Is WikiLeaks trying to distract Americans attention away from Trump's connection with Russia and turn our focus onto Obama's administration? Is WikiLeaks trying to help Trump with his claim?
Moreover Wikileaks is trying to stir up controversies and minimizing Americans trust in the how the government conducts its business. If FBI or CIA uses this "tools" to prevent massive casualties due to terrorist activities, I am fine with it. It is a trade off--civil liberty or living in fear of terrorist attacks. I don't mind someone listen in my call to my sister discussing recipes. I understand the idea of "Big Brother" can go too far, however, we live in a technological cyber warfare age, if we don't arm ourselves, we will be at a great disadvantage. Where to draw the line is difficult to determine.
Moreover Wikileaks is trying to stir up controversies and minimizing Americans trust in the how the government conducts its business. If FBI or CIA uses this "tools" to prevent massive casualties due to terrorist activities, I am fine with it. It is a trade off--civil liberty or living in fear of terrorist attacks. I don't mind someone listen in my call to my sister discussing recipes. I understand the idea of "Big Brother" can go too far, however, we live in a technological cyber warfare age, if we don't arm ourselves, we will be at a great disadvantage. Where to draw the line is difficult to determine.
The thing is - why would the CIA waste their time on you? Probably they are looking in places where they've first found a reason to look. Otherwise the story plays to the measure of Alex Jones' moral outrage, who claims on his web show that numerous entities are spying on him. Why would they bother? He once did a show from NYC, where he was walking around and broadcasting from his hotel room, going on about how operatives ("Bloomberg's" et al) were on his tail the whole time. But why would they need to be? All they would need to do is assign an intern to watch his show, see everything and all he is doing and then conclude there was no need to watch him.
Based on mandate the CIA would have very little reason nor the resources (or patience) to spare listening in on us everyday kitten-bats-at-string-media-story saps. More likely a case may be there is surveillance on several entities who, when this story comes out, suddenly demonstrate a noticeable change of behaviour. Oops!
Besides, was there not a story years ago that determined an old analog style telephone could be rigged to listen to a room even when it was not in use?
My favorite yarn is how they hacked the temperature regulator on Fidel Castro's fishtank. I guess he walks in and sees nothing but floaters, that afternoon still in despair he announces they are throwing in the towel on this commie thing and re-signing with the yankees. That call to his bro never got placed, kicked over the moment he saw the dead fish.
Based on mandate the CIA would have very little reason nor the resources (or patience) to spare listening in on us everyday kitten-bats-at-string-media-story saps. More likely a case may be there is surveillance on several entities who, when this story comes out, suddenly demonstrate a noticeable change of behaviour. Oops!
Besides, was there not a story years ago that determined an old analog style telephone could be rigged to listen to a room even when it was not in use?
My favorite yarn is how they hacked the temperature regulator on Fidel Castro's fishtank. I guess he walks in and sees nothing but floaters, that afternoon still in despair he announces they are throwing in the towel on this commie thing and re-signing with the yankees. That call to his bro never got placed, kicked over the moment he saw the dead fish.
Guess what NYT? I don't have a SHRED of respect for Wikileaks, Assange, and its integrity as a credible source of information. Why does anything they release get smeared all over the headlines whenever Assange pleases?
I am a paid subscriber to the NYT. This makes justifying my sub really, really hard. If I want quasi-news splattered with headlines from Wikileaks, I'll go to Breitbart or Fox. I expect more nuanced and considered analysis of events APART FROM NONSENSE FROM WIKILEAKS.
FInally, yhy the heck are you not focused entirely on the deconstruction of our Democracy at the hands of the Chief Narcissist? For God's sake, what in the world are you doing?!
I am a paid subscriber to the NYT. This makes justifying my sub really, really hard. If I want quasi-news splattered with headlines from Wikileaks, I'll go to Breitbart or Fox. I expect more nuanced and considered analysis of events APART FROM NONSENSE FROM WIKILEAKS.
FInally, yhy the heck are you not focused entirely on the deconstruction of our Democracy at the hands of the Chief Narcissist? For God's sake, what in the world are you doing?!
WikiLeaks has again done us a favor. The CIA now knows that other countries know what we are doing. This makes me more interested than ever in knowing more about Russia and Trump.
2
Russia, Russia Russia!!
It's all LIES. From both sides. Our government is as corrupt as the day is long and the Russian narrative serves a purpose for the rich. It is nothing more than propaganda to deflect from government corruption. Do yourself a favor and research further because there is ZERO proof that the Russians did anything
It's all LIES. From both sides. Our government is as corrupt as the day is long and the Russian narrative serves a purpose for the rich. It is nothing more than propaganda to deflect from government corruption. Do yourself a favor and research further because there is ZERO proof that the Russians did anything
TRUMP WAS RGHT. All HiS LEAKS TO MEDIA. My I phone sometimes activates Syrus and types in whatever I am saying.... it appears to be spying I h!ear Syrus only at the end, I won't use I phones when I stp working. They have a window into your life with smart devices.
"Wikileaks!! I love WikiLeaks!!"
quote from our so-called president, 2016 campaign rally
It sure looks like the feeling is mutual.
quote from our so-called president, 2016 campaign rally
It sure looks like the feeling is mutual.
25
Wow. What a shocker. The CIA taps phones. That a national intelligence agency taps phones and looks at messaging apps when it needs to is in no way unique to America's CIA. And of course---Wikileaks is the source.
Come on NYT.
Then I see that almost all news about DJT's horrendous activities is suddenly, mysteriously... gone from the NYT front page. I'm so deeply disturbed that you prioritize this nonsense over what is clearly the deconstruction of our democracy before our very eyes.
Come on NYT.
Then I see that almost all news about DJT's horrendous activities is suddenly, mysteriously... gone from the NYT front page. I'm so deeply disturbed that you prioritize this nonsense over what is clearly the deconstruction of our democracy before our very eyes.
31
No, no!
It's the best thing that you can do to combat a narcissist! Keep it up NYT! It will make him crazeeeeeee!
It's the best thing that you can do to combat a narcissist! Keep it up NYT! It will make him crazeeeeeee!
It's corruption of government as a whOle before our eyes. Trump, Republicans and Democrats are ALL part of what is the Russian narrative to cover up their corruption. Our government does not serve us, it serves the CORRUPT CIA, aka The Deep State. The minute we allowed money in politics is the minute we allowed a few bankster billionaires, like Soros and Adelson and the Rothschild banksters to run our government.
What people fear most in that they have ZERO representation is a FACT.
But what the ELites fear from us is REVOLT. They fear us finding out what they have done to us and the Russian narrative serves that purpose. Trump is a result of DECADES of criminality within government.
What people fear most in that they have ZERO representation is a FACT.
But what the ELites fear from us is REVOLT. They fear us finding out what they have done to us and the Russian narrative serves that purpose. Trump is a result of DECADES of criminality within government.
"In God We Trust All Others We Monitor" -- traditional motto of the armed and espionage services.
How's it feel boys, to be monitored by your own agency insiders, hackers and Wikileaks? And by Russia, China and perhaps others you don't even know about yet? How's that equity fer ya?
I propose a new law: you're subject to exposure inasmuch as you monitor.
And the old saying comes to mind: You're only sick as your secrets.
How's it feel boys, to be monitored by your own agency insiders, hackers and Wikileaks? And by Russia, China and perhaps others you don't even know about yet? How's that equity fer ya?
I propose a new law: you're subject to exposure inasmuch as you monitor.
And the old saying comes to mind: You're only sick as your secrets.
4
I'd prefer that failing to disclose a conflict of interest became a crime.
Russia China and 'others' have zero to do with the corrupt CIA, who spies upon the American people in order to find out what they know about the level of corruption in government. Have you read the leaks? Have you read about the reason the source feels such an urgency for the American people to know what it's government is doing to them? The reality that this government could control the latest car you drive and could assassinate you is CHILLING.
Read 1984, if you have not. We are living it.
Read 1984, if you have not. We are living it.
I'm kind of stunned you think this is news. Or even new information.
And that you suppose our own intelligence agencies do not know, have not known how extensive is the effort to monitor their activities.
These are the reasons, by the way, why Mr. Trump looks naive, foolish, and unprepared for service when he begins, as he says, "on my first day in office" to demean, alienate and antagonize the only reliable eyes he has on the world.
The man said, and I know you admire him for this, "I know more than the generals. I know Vladimir Putin very well. I will force China to adjust its trade imbalance with us." He has all but placed our nation's security in hands of Breitbart. TMZ, and Wikileaks, the most unreliable purveyors of information on the planet.
And now you are doing your happy dance because America's survival rests with a barely literate, completely uninterested and doctrinaire little man who began his tenure by making enemies of his only source of intelligence.
Of course we monitor and study how to break into cell phones, etc. Do you really expect the CIA to read Page Six and recommend executive action based on that?
And that you suppose our own intelligence agencies do not know, have not known how extensive is the effort to monitor their activities.
These are the reasons, by the way, why Mr. Trump looks naive, foolish, and unprepared for service when he begins, as he says, "on my first day in office" to demean, alienate and antagonize the only reliable eyes he has on the world.
The man said, and I know you admire him for this, "I know more than the generals. I know Vladimir Putin very well. I will force China to adjust its trade imbalance with us." He has all but placed our nation's security in hands of Breitbart. TMZ, and Wikileaks, the most unreliable purveyors of information on the planet.
And now you are doing your happy dance because America's survival rests with a barely literate, completely uninterested and doctrinaire little man who began his tenure by making enemies of his only source of intelligence.
Of course we monitor and study how to break into cell phones, etc. Do you really expect the CIA to read Page Six and recommend executive action based on that?
First thing first...this has come out as "no surprise" or some flabbergasting news because what wikileaks is revealing or leaking out now is a tacit fact known to many cyber sleuths that you can bug into the electronic and high tech gadgets be it smart phone, tab or your home bred PC and do that spying or snooping espionage through widgets and apps, including the free loading encrypted software bugs which will penetrate into your system as harmless viruses and capture the data...the process of ethical hacking is well known amongst the Intel agencies where by you are always under their telescopic lens, or on their radar through surveillance. Now comes another moot point, or as i would prefer saying the hotspur news for the media channels and tabloid news papers...the sweeping allegation of wire tapping , made by the present Prez. on his predecessor. Much like wikileaks and Julian Assange, Trump wants to stay afloat into the turbulent waters of News. He dropped the bomb, which had more smoke to spew than the true arsenals. Much hype and less evidences to prove, like some wikileaks. He prefers shooting through his smoke gun, one salvo or big shot at a time, so as to give media some fodder to survive. That's how trump triumphs...among his rivals , Dems and adversaries. There's a colloquial phrase used by the rodeos in the wild woolly western movies...shoot before the other winks...so be it.
1
Blowing off WikiLeaks is a mistake in a nation of the criminal cabal that runs our government on BOTH SIDES. We need to stop believing in this ludicrous fairy tale that this government is there to protect and serve us. THIS IS NOT ABOUT TRUMP. He is nothing more than a symbol of how corrupt our government has become. And this government and the wealthy entities that serve it, including the Times, will do or say anything to make the American people believe otherwise.
2
First thing first...this has come out as "no surprise" or some flabbergasting news because what wikileaks is revealing or leaking out now is a tacit fact known to many cyber sleuths that you can bug into the electronic and high tech gadgets be it smart phone, tab or your home bred PC and do that spying or snooping espionage through widgets and apps, including the free loading encrypted software bugs which will penetrate into your system as harmless viruses and capture the data...the process of ethical hacking is well known amongst the Intel agencies where by you are always under their telescopic lens, or on their radar through surveillance.
Now comes another moot point, or as i would prefer saying the hotspur news for the media channels and tabloid news papers...the sweeping allegation of wire tapping , made by the present Prez. on his predecessor. Much like wikileaks and Julian Assange, Trump wants to stay afloat into the turbulent waters of News. He dropped the bomb, which had more smoke to spew than the true arsenals. Much hype and less evidences to prove, like some wikileaks. He prefers shooting through his smoke gun, one salvo or big shot at a time, so as to give media some fodder to survive. That's how trump triumphs...among his rivals , Dems and adversaries. There's a colloquial phrase used by the rodeos in the wild woolly western movies...shoot before the other winks...so be it.
Now comes another moot point, or as i would prefer saying the hotspur news for the media channels and tabloid news papers...the sweeping allegation of wire tapping , made by the present Prez. on his predecessor. Much like wikileaks and Julian Assange, Trump wants to stay afloat into the turbulent waters of News. He dropped the bomb, which had more smoke to spew than the true arsenals. Much hype and less evidences to prove, like some wikileaks. He prefers shooting through his smoke gun, one salvo or big shot at a time, so as to give media some fodder to survive. That's how trump triumphs...among his rivals , Dems and adversaries. There's a colloquial phrase used by the rodeos in the wild woolly western movies...shoot before the other winks...so be it.
1
Look, despite the existence of a Network Device Branch that aims to hack internet access points or connected devices, it is clear that most of these hack tools are either installed as malware by user download or by physical access to the relevant device. It's a myth perpetuated by the tin-foil-hat brigade that the NSA or CIA can hack any machine or device they want, any packet sniffing software can tell you that in an instant. Otherwise why have the "Fine Dining" software to install hacking software from a USB stick? In any case, such surveillance would be illegal on a US computer without a warrant and easily exposed. What this does tell you is that the CIA have an cyber intelligence division that aims to collect information from specific targets, which they absolutely should have! Do we not want the CIA to be able to access the computers of foreign spies?
5
Assange belongs in prison. If he had stolen physical mail on such a scale and then released it to the public on such a scale he could be locked up and forgotten about.
I would like to see him gone.
I would like to see him gone.
20
Wrong, it is the corrupt and criminal representatives in power who serve the bankster elite, including the CIA, that belong in prison. The idea that this government serves and protects us is LUNACY. Assange and others like him, who work for truth and justice in trying to let the American people know the extent of corruption in government, are heroes.
1
Seems to me that Wikileaks is coming to Trump's aid. All of a sudden, just when Trump and his minions have really twittered themselves into a corner and do not see any way out, Wikileaks dumps a new package of goodies on the front doorstep to take our eyes away from Trump's lies and extravagant follies.
24
It isn't Trump. WikiLeaks does not work for Trump and if you were informed about the extent of governmentAL corruption in the US, you would know that TRUMP is merely the outcome to years of NEOLIBERAL AND NEOCONSERVATIVE policies, and a two party system that serves the Zionists banksters elites. Trump's lunacy serves the deep state and the CIA IS THE DEEP STATE. Clearly you have not read WikiLeaks recent dump. It's this type of ignorance in blowing off information that reveals the level of corruption in power, that brought us Trump in the first place.
1
As there are no friends amongst nations; there are only common interests, the Current president has it Right....
Keep your friends close....and your enemies closer.
Keep your friends close....and your enemies closer.
3
Did anyone read this?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/05/us/politics/trump-deregulation-guns-w...?
1st paragraph?
Giants in telecommunications, like Verizon and AT&T, will not have to take “reasonable measures” to ensure that their customers’ Social Security numbers, web browsing history and other personal information are not stolen or accidentally released.
Sophisticated hacking tools no longer needed.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/05/us/politics/trump-deregulation-guns-w...?
1st paragraph?
Giants in telecommunications, like Verizon and AT&T, will not have to take “reasonable measures” to ensure that their customers’ Social Security numbers, web browsing history and other personal information are not stolen or accidentally released.
Sophisticated hacking tools no longer needed.
11
US intelligence would be absolutely negligent not to have developed these tools. Russia has the same tools, as do China, Israel and Iran. For goodness sake, Botswana has them. Corporations, unions, political parties and many others have these capabilities. Some damned kid in his parent's basement can pull this off. However, I'd argue that the only appropriate government use of these tools is outside the US, or within the US and only with a public warrant supported by probable cause--no more star-chamber FISA courts for domestic warrants.
We are not impotent to in the face of this erosion of our privacy. Lobby your congresspeople to make a codicil to the 4th amendment specifically stating that warrantless searches of our devices, the contents of social media platforms, software and operating systems are unreasonable and subject to the exclusionary rule. Pass laws forbidding abominations like the Samsung Spy-TV unless it is equipped with an obvious and clearly marked "Stop Surveillance" button. Crack down on companies who divulge our personal information. The only way you are going to breath life into the concept of privacy for all Americans is if you make common cause with each other to protect yourselves against predatory entities. Get involved with non-profits which support electronic privacy like the EFF, the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, etc. Pass laws. Referendums. Constitutional amendments. Get involved!
We are not impotent to in the face of this erosion of our privacy. Lobby your congresspeople to make a codicil to the 4th amendment specifically stating that warrantless searches of our devices, the contents of social media platforms, software and operating systems are unreasonable and subject to the exclusionary rule. Pass laws forbidding abominations like the Samsung Spy-TV unless it is equipped with an obvious and clearly marked "Stop Surveillance" button. Crack down on companies who divulge our personal information. The only way you are going to breath life into the concept of privacy for all Americans is if you make common cause with each other to protect yourselves against predatory entities. Get involved with non-profits which support electronic privacy like the EFF, the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, etc. Pass laws. Referendums. Constitutional amendments. Get involved!
4
That would work if you believe your reps serve you. They don't. What is most revealing about these leaks is to know just how far this government will go to spy on its citizens in an effort to learn to what extent it's citizens understand the level of corruption in power. 1984, is now REAL and this dump is CHILLING
1
So, That's how all the info is leaking from the White House.
5
Release the computer code, then programmers can figure out if there is anything here or not. The computing world is full of vaporware with snazzy names. How do we know this isn't a particularly elaborate example?
Trump has zero business interests in Russia - zero. And he won the election, for better or worse, on the basis of protecting American workers. So why, again, is he allegedly pushing Moscow's agenda?
Everything we are experiencing now is the direct result of Americans in 30 states preferring The Donald to The Hill. The Russians didn't change a single vote. Not one. Democrats need to finally digest this fact and proceed accordingly.
Everything we are experiencing now is the direct result of Americans in 30 states preferring The Donald to The Hill. The Russians didn't change a single vote. Not one. Democrats need to finally digest this fact and proceed accordingly.
6
"Trump has zero business interests in Russia - zero. And he won the election, for better or worse, on the basis of protecting American workers. So why, again, is he allegedly pushing Moscow's agenda?"
And your source for this is? BTW: Trump Jr. told the Wall Street Journal in 2008, that a lot of money flowed into the Trump business from Russia.
And your source for this is? BTW: Trump Jr. told the Wall Street Journal in 2008, that a lot of money flowed into the Trump business from Russia.
11
You lost an election. Deal with it.
You're close. It was democrats who are responsible for their own level of corruption in serving monies interests of a few billionaires. Hence, the Russian narrative that is LUNACY. People assume that allegations of Russian interference is true, without ONCE asking themselves serious questions about why these allegations are being made without ONE shred of credible proof. American narcissism and ignorance prevents an honest investigation into the "lawyerly" language used by power to describe allegations of Russian involvement as "sources said".
The motive behind the Russian narrative serves a dual but devious purpose by the CIA deep state: as war propaganda and to cover up the MASSIVE corruption in power. The people long ago lost their representation and they would do well in coming to grips with this chilling fact as the elites plan for WW3
The motive behind the Russian narrative serves a dual but devious purpose by the CIA deep state: as war propaganda and to cover up the MASSIVE corruption in power. The people long ago lost their representation and they would do well in coming to grips with this chilling fact as the elites plan for WW3
Oh, duh, the CIA is hacking the phones of citizens. Do something useful, Wikileaks, and leak Trump's tax returns.
32
Just in time for Trump's bizarre charge of wiretapping.
Probably just a coincidence.
Probably just a coincidence.
10
It is. This has ZERO to do with Trump and everything to do with corruption of power. Do you really believe that this government has ever served you? If so, perhaps it's worth taking a look at NEOLIBERAL AND NEOCONSERVATIVE policies that have removed our privacy and stripped us of our civil liberties. How American are so BLIND to their corrupt government is astounding with the ignorance, narcissism and magical thinking it takes to maintain such thinking
2
Notable in this article is the omission of reference to the CIA ability to confuse investigators as to the origin of a hacker. This was included in the Wiki dump and could explain the tracking of hacking to supposedly Russian origins. Also note that towards the end of this article the writers give voice to the possibility that this latest dump is possibly the work of the Russians.
If this is the work of the Russians. If the election results are the work of the Russians. If all the current chaos we are experiencing in our country as of late is the result of the 12th largest nation in the world (Russia) toying with us. If all our spy and intelligence apparatus can't keep America safe from Putin and his minions, then I ask "What good are they and we do we pay them so much?"
The real scandal - if the rest of these so called scandals aren't outright lies - is the utter and complete incompetence of our entire intelligence apparatus; CIA in particular. This is what congress should be investigating and it should be where the cuts in spending begin.
If this is the work of the Russians. If the election results are the work of the Russians. If all the current chaos we are experiencing in our country as of late is the result of the 12th largest nation in the world (Russia) toying with us. If all our spy and intelligence apparatus can't keep America safe from Putin and his minions, then I ask "What good are they and we do we pay them so much?"
The real scandal - if the rest of these so called scandals aren't outright lies - is the utter and complete incompetence of our entire intelligence apparatus; CIA in particular. This is what congress should be investigating and it should be where the cuts in spending begin.
6
Yes! Spot on.
2
As you have shown - Russia's work here is a success!
1
Russia! Russia! Russia! Yes that's got to be it, right? When people realize that this narrative out of both sides is complete LUNACY and that there is ZERO proof that Russia did anything, including the hacking of our election, (although this narrative was crafted by Neoloberals democrats trying to deflect from the massive corruption and fraud they committed throughout the democratic primary), then we will finally be able to stand up and take our country back from the criminal cartel that has hijacked our government. This government doesn't work for the people, it works for the handful of billionaires that run it.
1
How strange that Wikileaks knocks Trumps' crazy accusations about Obama's wiretapping off the front page. Didn't this happen before? Wonder who is staging these leaks?
Also, I assume the leaks were from a private contractor, not a CIA employee. As long as most of the work is done by private contractors, and not government employees why should we not expect leaks? Their goal is to make money not protect our secrets.
Also, I assume the leaks were from a private contractor, not a CIA employee. As long as most of the work is done by private contractors, and not government employees why should we not expect leaks? Their goal is to make money not protect our secrets.
11
As bad, is how these are getting to Wikileaks in the first place. You Know Who is hacking for Trump again.
Try Blaming it all on the Current president. Right.
Where's the Left WIng outcry for accountability with Obama, Feinstein, and other outstanding members of the previous eight-year administration?
Where's the Left WIng outcry for accountability with Obama, Feinstein, and other outstanding members of the previous eight-year administration?
6
Accountability for what.
I fail to see your point.
The President has the responsibility to protect America.
This is how it is being done.
I would hold the President accountable if he had attempted to stop the CIA
I fail to see your point.
The President has the responsibility to protect America.
This is how it is being done.
I would hold the President accountable if he had attempted to stop the CIA
Obama, Feinstein et al are not committing crimes from the White House, encouraged by Russian handlers, as Trump is. Nor have Obama, Feinstein et al tried to hide their tax returns, as Trump is doing now.
And, of course, Obama, Feinstein et al are not systematically dismantling the most vital departments of our government while Trump distracts with his antics.
And, of course, Obama, Feinstein et al are not systematically dismantling the most vital departments of our government while Trump distracts with his antics.
1
Where is the outcry as to what all of this really means? I agree with you but it goes deeper than even that now.
The Russian narrative is theater and propaganda, done by BOTH sides of the corrupt aisle, where one side serves Soros and the other, Adelson, billionaire banksters that run this government and for whom the CIA works.
Neoloberals and neoconservatives are invested in distracting us from the truth of the corruption in government that is nothing more than a MOB.
The Russian narrative is theater and propaganda, done by BOTH sides of the corrupt aisle, where one side serves Soros and the other, Adelson, billionaire banksters that run this government and for whom the CIA works.
Neoloberals and neoconservatives are invested in distracting us from the truth of the corruption in government that is nothing more than a MOB.
Will this latest Wiki leak release make you safe? Will it better protect us from truly bad actors around the world?
3
Or truly bad actors in your own government who are not invested in peace but where war is most profitable? Let's see.. our already bloated 600 plus BILLION of tax payer money, over HALF of the federal budget, goes to the war machine and trump just requested 54 BILLION MORE. The deep state CIA is very invested in WAR.
How is this going to be paid for? Or will it matter as the billionaire zionist elites bring us to WW3, risking the lives of millions of Americans and Russians and potentially other countries? And taking what's left of the treasury as they run like the chicken s*its they are to their lavish bunkers leaving us to die?
If any American is invested in truth of corruption one need only look at our foreign policy and one that Netanyahu and Israel dictates?
What all of this is truly about rests in riches to be made by our government off the lives of millions and their endless lust for resources of other countries. Oil and gas with the biggest consumers being the military industrial complex
How is this going to be paid for? Or will it matter as the billionaire zionist elites bring us to WW3, risking the lives of millions of Americans and Russians and potentially other countries? And taking what's left of the treasury as they run like the chicken s*its they are to their lavish bunkers leaving us to die?
If any American is invested in truth of corruption one need only look at our foreign policy and one that Netanyahu and Israel dictates?
What all of this is truly about rests in riches to be made by our government off the lives of millions and their endless lust for resources of other countries. Oil and gas with the biggest consumers being the military industrial complex
“I think a foreign power is much more likely the source of these documents than a conscience-stricken C.I.A. whistle-blower,” Mr. Lewis said."
No doubt.
No doubt.
10
Could it possibly be clearer where WikiLeaks gets its information? The timing, in the midst of the controversial claim by President Trump that he was wiretapped by former President Obama, speaks volumes! It is reminiscent of how the most damaging information released about Hillary Clinton (through WikiLeaks) always seemed to occur just prior to some pivotal event, always having maximum negative impact.
18
Gee whiz, and all this going on during the 8 years of the Obama government. So, was Obama and his staff simply too incompetent to see these shadowy spying figures operating in their midst against the basic privacy expectations of US citizens, or was he a fully complicit partner? It's remarkable the unwillingness of Obama's cheerleaders to accept that he may very well have endorsed this, or at best turned a blind eye as he profited from this spying indirectly.
6
Who says they used it on US citizens ?
7
The only one profiting, literally lining his own pockets, is our current Dear Leader, violator of the Constitution.
1
You're right. He did. As did all of the neoliberals in Congress. The Patriot and freedom act served that purpose of the deep state elites
WikiLeaks strikes me as one of the most destructive forces on the planet. At first, it must have seemed like a good idea but it has since run wild and become a classic illustration of the saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
20
With some obvious exceptions (protecting your child from porn, informing the enemy of your plans, etc.) free flow of info generally is a good idea.
But this isn't free flow, this is whip lashing out a surge of specific materials for political purpose.
But this isn't free flow, this is whip lashing out a surge of specific materials for political purpose.
8
I am much less concerned with the CIA spy tactics, than those of China. I know those cheering on the release of this information are concerned about government overreach, and I get that. But this is the lesser of the evils as compared to China, N. Korea, Russia, ISIS, etc. Our internal laws put a leash of sorts on what can be done to American citizens, but the others dont.
7
"Our internal laws put a leash of sorts on what can be done to American citizens, but the others dont.".
I wish that was true, and many people still believe that. Under the Obama admin, propaganda against citizens was officially made legal. Obama is the first president to assassinate a US citizen openly. Now with the passage of the Countering Foreign Propaganda act, the US has established a real life truth committee. These leaks, and the Snowden leaks show that there is absolutely zero qualms with complete surveillance of American citizens. Furthermore, they add evidence to claims such as the CIA's assassination of Michael Hastings.
If you still think the government, especially the CIA, plays by a rulebook and/or that they have our best interests in mind, you are tremendously naive.
I wish that was true, and many people still believe that. Under the Obama admin, propaganda against citizens was officially made legal. Obama is the first president to assassinate a US citizen openly. Now with the passage of the Countering Foreign Propaganda act, the US has established a real life truth committee. These leaks, and the Snowden leaks show that there is absolutely zero qualms with complete surveillance of American citizens. Furthermore, they add evidence to claims such as the CIA's assassination of Michael Hastings.
If you still think the government, especially the CIA, plays by a rulebook and/or that they have our best interests in mind, you are tremendously naive.
5
So the CIA can read bad guys' emails, track them via their phone and monitor their conversations via their TV.
Good job, I say.
I am as concerned as I am about the cops' guns that they all carry to get some other bad guys. Yes, they might accidentally shoot me too, but the preventive value of these guns and the CIA tools are priceless.
The bad guys woke up this morning with a nasty headache. They all ditched their cell phones, threw away their computers and trashed their TVs, and escaped to the nearest cave on foot. And will hopefully stay there.
Good job, I say.
I am as concerned as I am about the cops' guns that they all carry to get some other bad guys. Yes, they might accidentally shoot me too, but the preventive value of these guns and the CIA tools are priceless.
The bad guys woke up this morning with a nasty headache. They all ditched their cell phones, threw away their computers and trashed their TVs, and escaped to the nearest cave on foot. And will hopefully stay there.
6
Not just bad guys. Power corrupts.
Not for long just the CIA. These methods leak out.
This is a warning of the future we'll face.
It is not so much an attack on doing it, as a warning that it has been done already and will continue.
Not for long just the CIA. These methods leak out.
This is a warning of the future we'll face.
It is not so much an attack on doing it, as a warning that it has been done already and will continue.
6
I have been in IT for more than 30 years, which means I am seriously disappointed by the number of people that are surprised/shocked at this revelation.
To update a very old adage: "What any human can invent, another human can circumvent."
And to all those well-meaning people who responded to those with privacy concerns by asking "What have you got to hide?" allow me to point at "Weeping Angel" for a moment. Even if you are one of the most perfect humans on Earth, are you comfortable with the CIA using your TV to record the words your spouse uses when referring to a few of your "interesting" body parts? How about when they record what your teenage daughter is saying to her best friends when they are "secure" in her room ... supposedly alone?
It's easy and more comfortable to feel safe, to feel that none of what you've been reading will affect you. Unfortunately, reality doesn't work that way.
To update a very old adage: "What any human can invent, another human can circumvent."
And to all those well-meaning people who responded to those with privacy concerns by asking "What have you got to hide?" allow me to point at "Weeping Angel" for a moment. Even if you are one of the most perfect humans on Earth, are you comfortable with the CIA using your TV to record the words your spouse uses when referring to a few of your "interesting" body parts? How about when they record what your teenage daughter is saying to her best friends when they are "secure" in her room ... supposedly alone?
It's easy and more comfortable to feel safe, to feel that none of what you've been reading will affect you. Unfortunately, reality doesn't work that way.
16
You hit the nail on the head. My wife met a young woman whose ex-boyfriend very effectively put her head on adult entertainment site and circulated it. Only those who are very sophisticated in visual technology can tell the difference. Her own parents condemned her for months before they found out what her ex boyfriend had done.
There are ways to take snippets out of photos, videos, text messages, conversations and interactions on the internet, emails, skype and make it look like something unethical, immoral or fishy or dirty is going on. Jimmy Kimmel does something like this just by using simple deletion and editing of conversations for his segment on "unnecessary censorship" in his show. There are far more sophisticated technology than this simple deletion, editing and merging.
They have technology that can watch your bedroom through your TV (while it appears off), and programs that insert horrible or mean stuff into dialogues or movie scripts without you even realizing it.
This means in the future, or now, thugs and con artists can use fabricated information, with some data from you inserted to make their falsifications look, sound or appear real, to hurt honest good people.
Many terrorists, and some activists groups, may learn from the CIA & NSA surveillance and distortion-of-information games, and they may play dirty too.
Only if you are dumb, ignorant and cowardly do you believe they cannot distort your innocent information and communications. They can and do!
There are ways to take snippets out of photos, videos, text messages, conversations and interactions on the internet, emails, skype and make it look like something unethical, immoral or fishy or dirty is going on. Jimmy Kimmel does something like this just by using simple deletion and editing of conversations for his segment on "unnecessary censorship" in his show. There are far more sophisticated technology than this simple deletion, editing and merging.
They have technology that can watch your bedroom through your TV (while it appears off), and programs that insert horrible or mean stuff into dialogues or movie scripts without you even realizing it.
This means in the future, or now, thugs and con artists can use fabricated information, with some data from you inserted to make their falsifications look, sound or appear real, to hurt honest good people.
Many terrorists, and some activists groups, may learn from the CIA & NSA surveillance and distortion-of-information games, and they may play dirty too.
Only if you are dumb, ignorant and cowardly do you believe they cannot distort your innocent information and communications. They can and do!
1
The New Yorker has a neat summary of what this is all about. I think we're a little trigger happy with the Russian revelations, this appears to be slightly different.
http://www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson/five-questions-about-the-late...
It ends thusly:
"Trump might be given pause about surveillance methods that might be directed at him and his associates. Or he might just rail against traitors in public and then ask, behind closed doors, when he gets to use these tools and toys himself. When the news of the revelations broke, some commentators asked if having promoted WikiLeaks’ Hillary Clinton-related revelations at his campaign rallies put Trump in an awkward position. But hypocrisy does not appear to be much of a constraint on this Administration. Nor are concerns about the laws circumscribing intelligence activities: Trump is a man who has complained that the C.I.A. isn’t allowed to torture people. The power of the President and his spies isn’t something that Trump seems to be interested in limiting—that is, as long as the President is named Trump."
One bit bears repeating!
"hypocrisy does not appear to be much of a constraint on this Administration"
Hypocrisy also does not appear to be a problem with Republicans in Congress.
http://www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson/five-questions-about-the-late...
It ends thusly:
"Trump might be given pause about surveillance methods that might be directed at him and his associates. Or he might just rail against traitors in public and then ask, behind closed doors, when he gets to use these tools and toys himself. When the news of the revelations broke, some commentators asked if having promoted WikiLeaks’ Hillary Clinton-related revelations at his campaign rallies put Trump in an awkward position. But hypocrisy does not appear to be much of a constraint on this Administration. Nor are concerns about the laws circumscribing intelligence activities: Trump is a man who has complained that the C.I.A. isn’t allowed to torture people. The power of the President and his spies isn’t something that Trump seems to be interested in limiting—that is, as long as the President is named Trump."
One bit bears repeating!
"hypocrisy does not appear to be much of a constraint on this Administration"
Hypocrisy also does not appear to be a problem with Republicans in Congress.
13
Why are you talking about hypocrisy, when these programs and capabilities were set up during the Obama administration? It was under democrats that propaganda aimed at US citizens was legalized. It was under Democrats that these surveillance programs were developed to monitor every single american, and to single out and target those who don't fall in line. It was Obama who prosecuted more whistleblowers than the rest of the US presidents combined. It was Democrats who meddled with their primaries and then with the general election.
And yet even in the face of these newest leaks, democrats still can't do anything but blame Trump and cry hypocrisy. The irony would be funny if it wasn't so sickeningly depressing.
And yet even in the face of these newest leaks, democrats still can't do anything but blame Trump and cry hypocrisy. The irony would be funny if it wasn't so sickeningly depressing.
6
I'd like to see Wikileaks take a crack at Facebook, speaking of privacy.
3
If the New York Times can publish a "possibility" from having this information than so can I.
I wonder if this type of hacking can help competing firms with information? If this hacking is true, perhaps it is possible to hack information from one company and give it to another. Perhaps it is possible to hack Samsung and cause phones to overheat. Funny how SamSung was noted in this article when the article is about the CIA.
Perhaps WikiLeaks has leaked this information to do exactly what they said. To encourage discussion and debate about this and thereby discuss all of the ramifications if true.
If this information is true then America really does need to have a serious conversation about how this ability is being used.
I wonder if this type of hacking can help competing firms with information? If this hacking is true, perhaps it is possible to hack information from one company and give it to another. Perhaps it is possible to hack Samsung and cause phones to overheat. Funny how SamSung was noted in this article when the article is about the CIA.
Perhaps WikiLeaks has leaked this information to do exactly what they said. To encourage discussion and debate about this and thereby discuss all of the ramifications if true.
If this information is true then America really does need to have a serious conversation about how this ability is being used.
3
Seriously NYT? Harry Potter, whiskey, and Pokémon suggest a male demographic? How is it that it is still ok to deal in gendered stereotypes like this? "The codes names used for projects revealed in the WikiLeaks documents appear to reflect the likely demographic of the cyberexperts employed by the C.I.A. — that is, young and male. There are numerous references to “Harry Potter,” Pokémon and Adderall, the drug used to treat hyperactivity.
A number of projects were named after whiskey brands. Some were high-end single malt scotches, such as Laphroaig and Ardbeg. Others were from more pedestrian labels, such as Wild Turkey, which was described by its programmers, in mock dictionary style, as “(n.) A animal of the avian variety that has not been domesticated. Also a type of alcohol with a high proof (151).”
A number of projects were named after whiskey brands. Some were high-end single malt scotches, such as Laphroaig and Ardbeg. Others were from more pedestrian labels, such as Wild Turkey, which was described by its programmers, in mock dictionary style, as “(n.) A animal of the avian variety that has not been domesticated. Also a type of alcohol with a high proof (151).”
1
Sessions who? Russia did what? Sorry, I forgot what we were talking about.
10
So the CIA (according to Wikileaks) had software that could emulate Russian hacking attempts. Then it used this software to imply the Russians were hacking the Democrats and the election. Then the Obama administration got warrants to tap or electronic eavesdrop on the Trump campaign because (supposedly) it was close to the Russians. Wow. I agree with the Democrats. A special prosecutor is in order. Let's get Loretta Lynch testifying under oath. Evidently the CIA and other intelligence agencies aren't very good at protecting their secrets.
5
Right. Obama used his CIA to make Trump win as President, and Hillary lose. Think people.
Obviously, Trump, with Putin's help and Jullian Assange for WikiLeaks to release more distractions hoping to misdirect attention Congress and the American people slow down the investigation into Trump's affair with Putin since the fake tweet by Trump that Obama wiretap him did not work. I don't think there are any surprises in these new releases by WikiLeaks. I'm pretty sure we've heard them all how the CIA has been spying or eavesdropping on us using our TV, cell phones, internet, other forms of electronic surveillance, etc. I bet there will be no tweet from Trump condemning this behavior by WikiLeaks and call for the arrest of Assange. Trump won't because he respects Assange and Putin more than his own country. Trump is a fraud and a traitor.
9
Won't anybody apologize to (or at least thank) the conspiracy theorists who have said for decades that the government is spying on us all?
You thought we were idiots.
You thought we were idiots.
5
They never will. They will close their ears and eyes and tell everyone its all ok. Then one day they'll wake up and think "how did we end up in this authoritarian surveillance state?" But it will be too late to ask questions then, and far too late to change anything.
2
If you would rather be safe from "terror" than free from intrusion by any government lacky with a login, well good luck with that.
6
This entire story is certainly giving the lie to the idea that the Obama administration was at all concerned about the civil rights of American citizens. Shoot, the Obama White House was spy central! The fact is American security has got to be stopped wherever possible from spying on American citizens without some real evidence of a real law being broken!
6
It is funny to see the reversal of roles: the liberals are all OK for the govt to have full control on citizens' lives just because Trump is getting benefited by these leaks while the conservatives are fighting for privacy (or at least putting that show) in order to support Trump. Trump has changed how people think: it appears everyone is his pawn now.
4
There's always those mean old villainous Russians!
2
IT seems to me, WikiLeaks, Trump and his White House close officials are working by any means necessary to drown out the real story behind the Russians hacking in our election. This is something I think every American should be concern about!! I also believe Trump and his White house close officials, like Steve Bannon and Steve Miller, would risk the security of our country and democracy to fulfill their hidden agenda, which does not include all Americans. For the love of our country, we can’t let that happen!!! So fellow Americans, media and true lawmakers don't be side tracked with this WikiLeaks story. We know Trump and his close officials wish the Russian hacking investigation will go away. We must for the sake of our democracy stay focus and find out the real truth behind all this, especially when our own President who does not offers any support or concerns of even wanting to know the real truth. Why is Trump bending over backwards to protect and defend Putin? We should get to know more about who is this President who is now running our country? Really who is he? His tax returns will reveal a lot on that. I think congress should subpoena his tax returns and find out more on his background and decide if he’s the person who should and is mentally capable of running our country or is he a risk? Enough is enough!!! It is time for our congress, senate and judges to step up and do what’s right for this country and its people. God bless America and all its people!!!
10
listen up
the intelligence AI barrier has been broken and its gone hot
we are in communication now with beings in what can conventionally be termed
other dimensions
pay attention to specific moments of consciousness usually as part of extreme life/death quarks
we all possess this skill
the intelligence AI barrier has been broken and its gone hot
we are in communication now with beings in what can conventionally be termed
other dimensions
pay attention to specific moments of consciousness usually as part of extreme life/death quarks
we all possess this skill
Or when Chelsea had it Audited the NY Foundation which she didn't realize the foundation was for their expenses, Cars, Houses, and any other kind of business expense, Hotels everything and the only two things that came out of it were Bill Was taking money from it and Chelsea and her husband were caught embezzlement. So If I were you I would get the use of the other two one in recife and the Other in Iceland with Sourus. Not get info from the FISA ct on when applications were made and when first was granted and was wire tapping a part of it. I think Trump is more trustworthy than Obama aqnd their thugs. He could put you in witness protection or find a place that no one knows were and lay low for another three yrs. Trump is really going to try and drain the deepest dirtiest swap in any ones history may be China was bigger until they started cracking down. The stuff you don't comment on are your either scared or you cant protect your self If I had to bet with the right provable info Trump would give you asylum in the US and a protected if he needed a platoon of special Forces in a just built bunker that5 would give you access to so many other things to look into after three yrs of no one knowing where you are and non traceable ways of communicating with your sources. If you don' Think of being the good guy would be two hard then your life expectancy maybe three yrs if you don't think these money and power broker's could get to you were ever are at if Hillary wanted to drone
2
It is disappointing to see such leaks happen to American intelligence institutions. On the one side, you can argue that yes, the government must be completely transparent, make known all exploits, protect our own citizens' rights and privacy. On the other hand, how can one assume other countries are not engaging in the same covert tactics, utilizing multiple zero-day software and hardware exploits? A glance through the SecureList blog would clearly show America is not the only country honing its skills at espionage. The world is not fair. War and politics is not fair. How do you expect to have any advantage when your opponent is cheating and you have to follow the rules? You can argue, show me something useful that has been accomplished with this "intelligence" but they would probably say classified. Please, go ahead and bring down the NSA, CIA, FBI, but don't come complaining when America as a country is taken advantaged of, we have no leverage due to lack of information, everyone knows what we plan to do before we can even do it, and we are slowly dismantled from the inside out.
2
"It is disappointing to see such leaks happen to American intelligence institutions."
Disappointing? I don't know how old you are but have you been paying attention or reading American history covering the last 50 years?
Disappointing? I don't know how old you are but have you been paying attention or reading American history covering the last 50 years?
There is no longer a preponderance of privacy in the digital age.
If a set of hackers, alphabet government agency or foreign power ( Russia\China ) decide to make you a target, then there is essentially nothing you can do about it.
Even if you have the most sophisticated technology with virus control, firewall upon firewall and a team of experts working around the clock, they still seem to get into computer\phone\network.
Coupled with all of the above, we now have the added layer of foreign government(s) ( with the help of certain rogue organizations ) releasing documents that show the one way actions of the US government. Further still they release them before elections to maximize influence towards the candidate of their choice.
Tell me again why there is not a special prosecutor or republicans clamoring to get in front of every camera they can find to extol freedom ?
Oh a republican is President and the black guy is gone. Sorry, forgot.
If a set of hackers, alphabet government agency or foreign power ( Russia\China ) decide to make you a target, then there is essentially nothing you can do about it.
Even if you have the most sophisticated technology with virus control, firewall upon firewall and a team of experts working around the clock, they still seem to get into computer\phone\network.
Coupled with all of the above, we now have the added layer of foreign government(s) ( with the help of certain rogue organizations ) releasing documents that show the one way actions of the US government. Further still they release them before elections to maximize influence towards the candidate of their choice.
Tell me again why there is not a special prosecutor or republicans clamoring to get in front of every camera they can find to extol freedom ?
Oh a republican is President and the black guy is gone. Sorry, forgot.
9
The problem is that this technology will not only available to the government. Just like cell phone tapping software was originally only available to law enforcement this technology has not remained out of other’s hands. Cell phone spying software is available for as little as 50 dollars through the internet for anyone to buy.
Stingray (Harris corp) is an IMSI catcher device mainly used by law enforcement.. These devices impersonate cell phone towers and can capture data from your phone even when it is "off". Many other companies make these devices such as PKI and Septier. IMSI catchers can be bought directly online from China for $1800.00. These devices are capable of locating and tapping cell phones as well as changing the settings on your phone.
A cell phone can be stopped from tracking and tapping if it is placed in a Faraday Cage. A Faraday cage is a metal or conductive envelope that completely surrounds the electronic device and stops signals from going into or out of the cage.This can be accomplished by making a pouch out of a metallized ie conductive fabric. It stops you from getting calls as well but it will stop the IMSI catcher intrusions into your phone if you can't or don't want to take the battery out. Search youtube for detracktor for a demonstration.
Stingray (Harris corp) is an IMSI catcher device mainly used by law enforcement.. These devices impersonate cell phone towers and can capture data from your phone even when it is "off". Many other companies make these devices such as PKI and Septier. IMSI catchers can be bought directly online from China for $1800.00. These devices are capable of locating and tapping cell phones as well as changing the settings on your phone.
A cell phone can be stopped from tracking and tapping if it is placed in a Faraday Cage. A Faraday cage is a metal or conductive envelope that completely surrounds the electronic device and stops signals from going into or out of the cage.This can be accomplished by making a pouch out of a metallized ie conductive fabric. It stops you from getting calls as well but it will stop the IMSI catcher intrusions into your phone if you can't or don't want to take the battery out. Search youtube for detracktor for a demonstration.
3
And of course not just available to friendly governments or quasi governments.
ISIS is not using weaponized drones, that they buy commercially. That is a warning of the path such things follow.
ISIS is not using weaponized drones, that they buy commercially. That is a warning of the path such things follow.
Why do you think criminals -- good ones -- say "no phones". Assume an audience. (Yes, I cringe when I think that I actually post here...) But I don't see this as the taking down of ordinary people. Could even be a duex es machina moment if we let it. If exposure curbs the gluttony of expectations from the 1%, where is the harm in that? I think most of us could do well enough, could re-imagine life at least a little off grid and then what do the takers and listeners have? For me, this tech trajectory has to crash and burn somewhere. Too much, too fast, too unwieldy. It is no longer controllable. This probably sounds like I am typing through lots of smoke (I'm not), just saying.
And that said, Assange is completely untrustworthy. As far from a hero as I can imagine.
And that said, Assange is completely untrustworthy. As far from a hero as I can imagine.
6
Waiting for Wikileaks to dump information on every US Senator and Congress person. Need to know what dirt bags they are. Then all sides might come together. Come on Wikileaks, the American people need to know they were used and lied to and taken advantage of by their own representatives, and that it is the senators and congress, not the Presidents, that sold us out for the last 40+ years..
5
Its the CIA that sells us out and constantly destabilizes the world. The CIA is why so much of the world hates the US. This leak is exposing a fraction of what the CIA does around the world. JFK tried to warn us and died for it. Hmm, now that I think of it, that was about 40 years ago wasn't it?
Your certainly don't need Wikileaks to show you that your Congress is bought and paid for, do you?
2
The minute Trump gets into really hot water for something he is guilty of (Billy Bush) here comes Wikileaks to the rescue. Remember Trump loves Wikileaks. After all, they helped put him into the White House. Lots of questions.
11
Let's focus on who's been hacking the U.S., that would be Russia and China. Nobody believes Wikileaks on anything anymore. We must stay focused on our allies no matter what poison comes from Wikileaks.
3
Remember Snowden ? What's he up to these days ?
3
tortured?
Julian Assange, you just had a break in the people that could have been allies instead of enemies. You know if that doesn't matter to you it should if you ever want people to petition for your release. The Obama Administration was the worst in US History when your backed by ten people that want a no boarder society all billionaires and all own almost every media site. Americans have lost faith in their media system where if I were you I would try to Fill that void. This is how you get out off were your are and give you an no exterdesion order and asylum in the US which has to be better then where you at. If I were you I would try and get a hold of all FISA warrants were pull on Trump and his team and did it include wire tapping, and get us something on an unarguable conversation with Hillary and Saudi or Libya and proof to America that she did have the biggest Money laundering scheme ever pulled off by even using the DNC account to spread money all over the Us Then bring it back all nice and tidy.
1
Philip- what about adding the following to your wishlist:
1 Trump's tax returns
2 Communications between the Trump campaign and Russia
1 Trump's tax returns
2 Communications between the Trump campaign and Russia
10
Like TIME, PRIVACY is a product worth a great deal of money. Once they realize they are being victimized, consumers should demand superior products that do not invade their privacy. This is an attainable goal. Privacy is a prized, desirable product feature. People just don't know it yet. Do you want your supervisor or the opposing divorce lawyer purchasing a transcript of everything you say in your own home? Do you want robbers purchasing a dossier on your wherabouts and the times you are not at home? What if the police are corrupt and wish to dip into police data to commit nefarious acts against you or your family?
Privacy is achievable using technology, but it must be fostered. It needs to become a community value again.
Privacy is achievable using technology, but it must be fostered. It needs to become a community value again.
5
Julian, I once had great respect for WikiLeaks and what I thought was its struggle to shine light on all dark places. Now it seems the focus of your high power flashlight is America and on places that tip our elections and weaken our intelligence agencies. If this is true, I want to know why Julian and now would be a good time to tell us while you have our attention. Do you think a weaker America led by Trump makes the world a better place?
19
It certainly makes the world a better place than the one Obama 2.0 would have provided.
After all, it was under Obama's administration these incredulous assaults on the privacy of American citizens occurred.
After all, it was under Obama's administration these incredulous assaults on the privacy of American citizens occurred.
3
It's curious. You don't (normal, secure people don't) want to see the release of sensitive U.S. national security information. Yet, when we read about some of our government activities, it is deeply disconcerting that, as I sit here, there could be another set of unauthorized eyes that observes the data on my system.
In computing systems there is a security boundary that defines the location of sensitive information. The boundary must not be penetrated by malevolent actors. There is a lot of work on how this boundary can be made formally secure. It works best for very small areas, such as your phone. Your personal data stays on your phone, and only you have access to that data.
If someone else has access to your data, then the security boundary extends to that entity. If it is a a reliable organization, then it is required that the organization have the same quality of security that your phone has. The problem is that a thousand people in that presumably trusted organization could have access to the data on your cell phone. It is difficult to make a boundary, that is that large, secure. Indeed, impossible.
The people of the U.S. deserve to have a transparent security architecture for their private data. This architecture cannot be based on a simplistic belief that it will help us catch terrorists. It is based on logic and policy, two things of which the naive public is unaware.
In computing systems there is a security boundary that defines the location of sensitive information. The boundary must not be penetrated by malevolent actors. There is a lot of work on how this boundary can be made formally secure. It works best for very small areas, such as your phone. Your personal data stays on your phone, and only you have access to that data.
If someone else has access to your data, then the security boundary extends to that entity. If it is a a reliable organization, then it is required that the organization have the same quality of security that your phone has. The problem is that a thousand people in that presumably trusted organization could have access to the data on your cell phone. It is difficult to make a boundary, that is that large, secure. Indeed, impossible.
The people of the U.S. deserve to have a transparent security architecture for their private data. This architecture cannot be based on a simplistic belief that it will help us catch terrorists. It is based on logic and policy, two things of which the naive public is unaware.
4
I agree with your comments. It's terrifying to suspect that our government is spying on you - on the other hand it is good to know the CIA has these capabilities because one can safely assume that Russia, China, and others have the same abilities - they could even use it to throw an election.
2
@Alex:
"they could even use it to throw an election."
Clinton threw the election?
"they could even use it to throw an election."
Clinton threw the election?
Well according to this, China, Russia and everyone else do have these capabilities now... because the CIA "lost control" by being loose with contractors. That is how this leak was put together in the first place.
Just like a year ago when NSA spy tools were auctioned off. It is likely that these tools, which cost the taxpayers Billions to develop, are the most advanced in the world. Due to incompetence and greed they are now available to anyone who really wants them.
Just like a year ago when NSA spy tools were auctioned off. It is likely that these tools, which cost the taxpayers Billions to develop, are the most advanced in the world. Due to incompetence and greed they are now available to anyone who really wants them.
Does the law abiding American citizen really need to worry about one of our national security agencies spying on them ? If the technology helps to catch the disruptors so be it - our technology comes with "negatives" and "positive" just like everything else in life.
7
And what happens when our intelligence agencies are run by an amoral government? What happens if a con man feeds information to our agencies which result in war? Remember Iraq?
Yes, people do need to worry.
Yes, people do need to worry.
1
Why have you allowed this story to dominate the front page, displacing further coverage of Trump's relationship with Russia? You should at least suspect that this information was released for the very purpose of eclipsing the more pertinent story. Wiki Leaks has proven to do Russia's bidding, and this story serves the interest of all those who want to obscure the links between Putin's regime and the President it helped to install and whose survival in office depends on deflecting attention and evading scrutiny. Please stop enabling.
20
There has been nothing but non-stop Russia coverage for months with zero substance.
This release is incredibly dense with substance, and affects the entire world deeply. If you want more fluff about unsubstantiated Russia fear-mongering try CNN.
This release is incredibly dense with substance, and affects the entire world deeply. If you want more fluff about unsubstantiated Russia fear-mongering try CNN.
2
Is this sweeps week on the Presidential Apprentice?????
5
privacy, ha!
2
Don't understand obsession with Trumps taxes. Was he accused of Tax fraud? Did I miss something? Was there a case? Confused.
3
Seriously?
Yes, multiple times.
Google it for goodness sake.
Yes, multiple times.
Google it for goodness sake.
9
Disclosure of any financial dealings with Russia, including loans, capital gains, investments. Things that would not perhsps be a big deal for a private person but for a president or someone seeking office it could be seen as 'sleeping with the enemy' and a potential compromise of national security.
6
Sad Hillary voters still whine about the electoral college. Pathetic ones still whine about Trump's tax returns.
1
I have an Amazon Echo on one side of my Samsung TV and my iPhone on a charger on the other side. My wife and I pass written notes to each other if we want to talk in the living room.
12
"My wife and I pass written notes to each other ..."
For improved security, use a small, dry-erase board instead of paper. The problem with paper is that you have to destroy it ...
For improved security, use a small, dry-erase board instead of paper. The problem with paper is that you have to destroy it ...
3
Learn sign language maybe?
Smoke signals. The original inhabitants of our once great nation used them with great success.
Assange's agenda is pro-Russian and anti-American. He is a lot like Trump. He thrives on the limelight and power and media influence. He seeks disruption and revenge. This release was timed, obviously, to deflect attention from the Trump/Republican/Russia alliances and to create a sense that the phone-tapping fabrication might have a kernel of truth. Did Assange choose the timing himself, or did Trump or Putin send word? If Assange has the tax returns, he will never release them, but will forever hold them over Trump.
9
What if Wikileaks merely releases the truth, and in your eyes, your view of the facts is favorable to Russia and unfavorable to the US? Maybe it is your heart that is pro-Russian. Maybe they are right occasionally.
2
If you are an American, you should be angry, not pleased, about this.
The timing further suggests that WikiLeaks is working with the Russians. It reveals severe vulnerabilities; creates more attack opportunities against us; and will cost a small fortune to recover from the disclosures.
I believe this first release of documents should be considered a first wave of an attack on our infrastructure and institutions and we need to respond accordingly.
The timing further suggests that WikiLeaks is working with the Russians. It reveals severe vulnerabilities; creates more attack opportunities against us; and will cost a small fortune to recover from the disclosures.
I believe this first release of documents should be considered a first wave of an attack on our infrastructure and institutions and we need to respond accordingly.
12
Yes I'm angry that the government continues to illegally spy on innocent Americans.
8
"I believe this first release of documents should be considered a first wave of an attack on our infrastructure ..."
A CIA document dump is not "an attack on our infrastructure".
A CIA document dump is not "an attack on our infrastructure".
3
Keep in mind, those who hold the keys to the privacy kingdom, aren't chiefly government employees sworn to defend the US Constitution, they are contractors, sworn to defend their bonuses and win new NSA/CIA/DIA/FBI contracts with new innovative tools on how to invade our collective privacy and suck up our intimate data. Remember, this means this is a two-way door, these agencies can also plant evidence and truly frame people.
Just ask Hillary Clinton how all that turned out also, remember Edward Snowden was a contractor.
Keep all of this gold plated invasion of privacy in perspective. The Boston Marathon Bombers communicated with family back in Russia, were interviewed by the FBI, all prompted Russia's intelligence marking the bombers as radicaclized. So in a case of a suspected specific threat, classic FBI, crickets chirping nothing was done. However, we pay billions and I do mean billions, all to yield a dragnet of our phones, our child's Snapchats, or boring conversations around our modern television sets.
Just ask Hillary Clinton how all that turned out also, remember Edward Snowden was a contractor.
Keep all of this gold plated invasion of privacy in perspective. The Boston Marathon Bombers communicated with family back in Russia, were interviewed by the FBI, all prompted Russia's intelligence marking the bombers as radicaclized. So in a case of a suspected specific threat, classic FBI, crickets chirping nothing was done. However, we pay billions and I do mean billions, all to yield a dragnet of our phones, our child's Snapchats, or boring conversations around our modern television sets.
5
Honestly, does anyone really belief that Putin preferred Trump over Clinton? Why wouldn't he want 4 more years of an Obama type government? If you think he really wanted Trump I have some land in the Everglades I want to sell you.
5
"Putin preferred Trump over Clinton", because Trump is WEAKER than Clinton.
6
Then why did she lose?
1
No doubt we can rely on the mainstream media and the critical mass of pundits and commenters to focus on the the irrelevancies by positing motives and engaging in ad hom attacks on the source or the publishers, and not debating the main issues of power, lack of democratic accountability, lack of privacy and the limitless potential for abuse of power by agencies with very checkered track records.
6
How do we know these aren't Russian hacking tools, equipped with English names to incriminate America?
7
Instead of speculating, you should look at the documents yourself:
https://wikileaks.org/ciav7p1/
Anyway, the article cites sources, albeit anonymous, who vouch for the authenticity of the documents: "But one government official said the documents were real, and a former intelligence officer said some of the code names for C.I.A. programs, an organization chart and the description of a C.I.A. hacking base appeared to be genuine."
https://wikileaks.org/ciav7p1/
Anyway, the article cites sources, albeit anonymous, who vouch for the authenticity of the documents: "But one government official said the documents were real, and a former intelligence officer said some of the code names for C.I.A. programs, an organization chart and the description of a C.I.A. hacking base appeared to be genuine."
2
So what's the difference between Wikileaks and ISIS as far as national security?
President Trump if you are listening, please disable Wikileaks, like issuing a cyber ban.
I am listening......, anybody home, WH?
President Trump if you are listening, please disable Wikileaks, like issuing a cyber ban.
I am listening......, anybody home, WH?
3
It's illegal for the CIA to spy on US citizens. That is law. Having the "capability" to do something does not mean the intelligence agencies are actually doing it on US citizens.
4
Yeah, right.
4
America has been kept free through vigilance. And oftentimes that vigilance goes far beyond traditional 'spying'. Whatever technology is profitable for the masses in the form of increased productivity, communications, entertainment, etc. can be doubly profitable from an intelligence gathering effort view point. A cell phone is basically a radio. An unlocked scanner with the proper frequency coverage will allow one to listen in to cell calls (scanners in the US are cell locked). Someone can sit outside a house and if router encryption is weak, can capture the activity on the computers in that house.
Most bothersome to me is that we, the USofA, may have people working for various agencies deliberately feeding our secrets to wikileaks, for idealistic reasons. That is just so wrong. I am a firm believer that there are malevolent forces at work to bring down America. And bring on a Constitutional crisis. Politics aside, the NY Times should put forth every effort to uncover and report what is happening and how. No left/no right. Just facts. Our nation deserves it.
Most bothersome to me is that we, the USofA, may have people working for various agencies deliberately feeding our secrets to wikileaks, for idealistic reasons. That is just so wrong. I am a firm believer that there are malevolent forces at work to bring down America. And bring on a Constitutional crisis. Politics aside, the NY Times should put forth every effort to uncover and report what is happening and how. No left/no right. Just facts. Our nation deserves it.
1
Show of hands, please - how surprised would anyone really be to eventually discover that wikileaks itself is a CIA op?
2
I second karma2013's remarks. The world has devolved into a festival of egomaniacs: Trump, Julian Asante, and Putin, to name the most prominent. The way for this has been paved by Russian propaganda, Wikileaks self-righteousness & propaganda, and, most disheartening, a U.S. media that allowed itself to be led by the nose by Wikileaks (check out the super softball interview Anderson Cooper did with Assange during the 2016 campaign), by Trump, and by their own inability to consistently handle nuances like the fact that the free flow of information is good, but not if that information gets leaked to the whole world, including the terrorists intelligence are trying to stop and the foreign government whose hacks and fake news helped get Trump elected.
6
This is no coincidence. Trump has been feeling the heat and he called on Wiki to help him out--just like during the campaign--the day after access tapes --wiki started leaking Hillary Podesta emails--Trump is the deflector and chief--whether it is sidestepping collusion, tax release, E.O's, muslim ban, conflicts of interest, Trump continues to punch back--however his comebacks are getting more and more outrageous by the moment. The world must think the US has a "cuckoo for coconuts" POTUS!!
8
Yet you admit the validity of those same leaked emails.
Sounds a lot like you prefer crooked liars and deliberately choose to shoot the messenger.
Sounds a lot like you prefer crooked liars and deliberately choose to shoot the messenger.
3
The reference to Wild Turkey being 151 proof is not accurate.
4
101
2
The CIA document says "151", so I guess someone should submit a bug report to the CIA. :-)
Here is the doc on Wikileaks:
Hamr Testing With WildTurkey
https://wikileaks.org/ciav7p1/cms/page_29032469.html
2017-03-08 13:46:02 UTC
Here is the doc on Wikileaks:
Hamr Testing With WildTurkey
https://wikileaks.org/ciav7p1/cms/page_29032469.html
2017-03-08 13:46:02 UTC
Nobody would believe all this in a Tom Clancy novel.
It's like Fake Reality,or something. Just ask the GOP.
It's like Fake Reality,or something. Just ask the GOP.
1
None of this was surprising to me. Should be assumed knowledge by everyone. Of course the government have the capabilities to spy on you. The question is, are they?
5
Retaliation for last week's Russia link articles. Part punishment and part threat. I wasn't sure there was a direct link last week, but after this weekend's threats and this coordinated threat, I'm much closer.
6
Privacy is shrinking. Things will change in consequence. Action brings reaction.
We may try to become more paranoid about our privacy. However, that won't work. As this shows, already our TV and "secure" phone can spy on us. If one agency can use those against us already, so will other people, and sooner than later.
Therefore we will probably be forced to be more accepting of matters in which we've lost our privacy. We'll be pushed to, "Who cares."
As the Duke of Wellington once wrote in response to a blackmail threat, "Publish and be damned."
For both the prudish and the politically correct in the US, that will be a long journey. However, it is really the only possible outcome.
We may try to become more paranoid about our privacy. However, that won't work. As this shows, already our TV and "secure" phone can spy on us. If one agency can use those against us already, so will other people, and sooner than later.
Therefore we will probably be forced to be more accepting of matters in which we've lost our privacy. We'll be pushed to, "Who cares."
As the Duke of Wellington once wrote in response to a blackmail threat, "Publish and be damned."
For both the prudish and the politically correct in the US, that will be a long journey. However, it is really the only possible outcome.
2
yeah, no. This isn't going to make me take my eye off the Russian Traitor ball
4
So. Now is the time to cast the CIA and all other intelligence department in the "Enemy of the people" category. Whether the information is true or not doesn't matter.
The real trick here, is the distraction of the Trump believers, from the ties to Russia.
Since the intelligence communities are against us all now, we cannot possibly support or believe any investigation or info about Trump and Russia. Right?
Tis time to be afraid.
The real trick here, is the distraction of the Trump believers, from the ties to Russia.
Since the intelligence communities are against us all now, we cannot possibly support or believe any investigation or info about Trump and Russia. Right?
Tis time to be afraid.
3
If it is proven Russia was involved, all they did was to expose the lies and corruption of Mrs Clinton and the DNC.
And your hyperpartisan response? Shoot the messenger!
You bet I'm afraid. I'm afraid of an American party, calling itself "democrat", that chooses to deny and deflect when it's proven they're crooked to the core.
And your hyperpartisan response? Shoot the messenger!
You bet I'm afraid. I'm afraid of an American party, calling itself "democrat", that chooses to deny and deflect when it's proven they're crooked to the core.
2
Assange is a bottom feeder. Sociopaths should never be seen as anything but sociopaths. He doesn't work alone.
6
Spying is now everyone's purview. The internet has been a great equalizer.
Bannon and Putin going after the "deep state" using Wikileaks. Trump is the mouthpiece to their efforts to delegitimatize US institutions like our election process, the media and free speech, and our intelligence agencies. Drip, drip, drip...
6
This is another example of the Russians/Assange rescuing DJT from himself. Why? He is such a mess, and they have to cover for him for some reason. Are there no chatty sources in IRS? Having such an 'arsenal' does not mean it is being misused or abused. Pax, jb.
3
Like Niki Haley said to the UN, "we're taking names"
I for one would appreciate my private conversations remain private.
It's time for everyone to call Apple and demand a removal battery again.
Call Apple, google, microsoft, Samsung and demand private phones with removable batteries that can actually be shut off.
I for one would appreciate my private conversations remain private.
It's time for everyone to call Apple and demand a removal battery again.
Call Apple, google, microsoft, Samsung and demand private phones with removable batteries that can actually be shut off.
1
Hopefully there will be better programs in the next 8 years and ONLY against enemies - not US law abiding citizens.
But I still was happy with Wikileaks exposes of hiLIARy because she's a criminal - imagine if she was POTUS.
see www DOT mostdamagingwikileaks DOT com/
"The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." George Orwell
But I still was happy with Wikileaks exposes of hiLIARy because she's a criminal - imagine if she was POTUS.
see www DOT mostdamagingwikileaks DOT com/
"The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." George Orwell
2
The CIA made these systems unclassified.
To attack its targets, the CIA usually requires that its implants communicate with their control programs over the internet. If CIA implants, Command & Control and Listening Post software were classified, then CIA officers could be prosecuted or dismissed for violating rules that prohibit placing classified information onto the Internet. Consequently the CIA has secretly made most of its cyber spying/war code unclassified. The U.S. government is not able to assert copyright either, due to restrictions in the U.S. Constitution. This means that cyber 'arms' manufactures and computer hackers can freely "pirate" these 'weapons' if they are obtained. The CIA has primarily had to rely on obfuscation to protect its malware secrets.
To attack its targets, the CIA usually requires that its implants communicate with their control programs over the internet. If CIA implants, Command & Control and Listening Post software were classified, then CIA officers could be prosecuted or dismissed for violating rules that prohibit placing classified information onto the Internet. Consequently the CIA has secretly made most of its cyber spying/war code unclassified. The U.S. government is not able to assert copyright either, due to restrictions in the U.S. Constitution. This means that cyber 'arms' manufactures and computer hackers can freely "pirate" these 'weapons' if they are obtained. The CIA has primarily had to rely on obfuscation to protect its malware secrets.
1
Wikileaks, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Russian intelligence, needs to be taken down.
I hope our government will spare no effort in achieving that.
I hope our government will spare no effort in achieving that.
6
Why "taken down". For proving, beyond a shadow of a doubt, democrats are liars protecting a corrupt party?
No one disputes the contents of the leaks. Democrats are raging because they were called out over them.
No one disputes the contents of the leaks. Democrats are raging because they were called out over them.
2
If our cyber capabilities are that sophisticated, then how is it our CIA and their private hacker contractors cannot shut off his ability to leak?
This totally isn't an attempt to discredit the CIA. Tl
You're right, they don't need any help.
Why give so much coveage to WIkileaks when they are a dubious source at best. Possibly playing (foolishly) into Trump's (made up) narrative on Obama and bugging etc. I am disappointed in both NPR and the NY Times who I look to for real news at headlining wikileaks as a primary source. There are so many more important things toput onthe front page.
4
If our government wanted to hurt us, you and me, it could have done so years ago. Instead, thousands of federal public servants have dedicated themselves to developing tools to monitor those who would (and want to) hurt us and further, thousands who put themselves in harms way on our behalf. That WikiLeaks cavalierly releases this information now, puts us, you and me, at risk.
Still, I cannot believe that is the reason for the WikiLeaks now. Instead, I believe it is plausible that his is an action coordinated with Russia, meant to inform those individuals in the US who may have colluded with Russia to engineer our recent undemocratic election. It's similar to trump making he request of Russia in July 2015, to please start releasing the Hillary emails.
Plainly spoken: this set of data will let all of the accomplices know what they should not be doing, or stop doing immediately, in order to keep their actions secretive from those who conduct investigations - our Intelligence Community. There you have it, my conspiracy theory. Russia still acting to help trump cover his campaign tracks in order to keep trump in position.
Still, I cannot believe that is the reason for the WikiLeaks now. Instead, I believe it is plausible that his is an action coordinated with Russia, meant to inform those individuals in the US who may have colluded with Russia to engineer our recent undemocratic election. It's similar to trump making he request of Russia in July 2015, to please start releasing the Hillary emails.
Plainly spoken: this set of data will let all of the accomplices know what they should not be doing, or stop doing immediately, in order to keep their actions secretive from those who conduct investigations - our Intelligence Community. There you have it, my conspiracy theory. Russia still acting to help trump cover his campaign tracks in order to keep trump in position.
2
I wish everyone would reconsider demands for WikiLeaks to leak Trump's tax returns. That would be great for Donald Trump.
Let's just demand our own government to release them.
Let's just demand our own government to release them.
2
No one cares about tax returns. Get over it.
When did WikiLeaks become a credible source? It seems The New York Times, AP and other respected and established media outlets are rushing to publish these "revelations" without verifying them. Even this article states, "The source of the documents was not named." OK, so how do we know they're not "fake" news? Journalists (and yes, I am one) used to live, eat and breathe by "trust, but verify." Did anyone bother to do that in this case?
It wouldn't surprise me if the information were accurate, but consider the source first. What's the motive for the release and the timing? What does WikiLeaks stand to gain? I don't see anyone going underneath the covers or confirming the information is accurate with other sources; hell, that would require real investigative journalism wouldn't it?
Dig deeper. I'm sure there's more to this story.
In the meantime, I'll be listening to albums on my old-school turntable, watching movies on my ancient nonsmart TV, and driving my "dumb" car. At least they're safe from hacking.
It wouldn't surprise me if the information were accurate, but consider the source first. What's the motive for the release and the timing? What does WikiLeaks stand to gain? I don't see anyone going underneath the covers or confirming the information is accurate with other sources; hell, that would require real investigative journalism wouldn't it?
Dig deeper. I'm sure there's more to this story.
In the meantime, I'll be listening to albums on my old-school turntable, watching movies on my ancient nonsmart TV, and driving my "dumb" car. At least they're safe from hacking.
2
Wikileaks publishes facts, unlike the other sources you mention.
4
And you know this based on what? "Liberal media" conspiracy theories? I trust WikiLeaks about as much as Tass.
Breaking news! A spy agency spies in attempts to protect the nation. Wikileaks is nothing more than a distraction device so people can focus on things other than Trump's abysmal presidency.
7
Hey Sparky, the CIA isn't allowed to spy on US citizens. Even if they were, doing so doesn't "protect the nation".
2
What tax returns?
I can't even get the DVR to record on my Samsung TV 90% of the time and yet...
1
I'm happy that all this stuff is in the periphery... But what I really would like to know from Wiki-leaks is if there are UFO's..
Well, are there?
Well, are there?
1
Two words: tax returns.
Let's see 'em, Wikileaks.
Let's see 'em, Wikileaks.
33
Why does Assange seem to hate Hillary?
He released her secret document inquiring about the possibility of killing him.
She did her best to have him kidnapped. He's locked in that Embassy hiding from her actions.
That is likely why. Actions have re-actions.
He released her secret document inquiring about the possibility of killing him.
She did her best to have him kidnapped. He's locked in that Embassy hiding from her actions.
That is likely why. Actions have re-actions.
3
To before warned is to before armed, Our Intelligence community should pay very close attention to North Korea, Syria, Crimea and Sweden, Europe as this Russian Gate takes a foot hold, possibility of a missile provocation by Russians or their delegate is bound to create a distraction huge distraction that will derail this Russian issue. I smell a rat seriously. All of a sudden North Korea is testing Missiles we know were built with Russian scientists help.
2
Please wake up up everyone. Do you think it's just by chance that Wikileaks happens to release things that are incredibly beneficial to trump - both in content AND timing - and never anything bad about him?
24
this is just a drip. there's so much more. fact: MIND CONTROL TOASTERS!!!
10
As a UK based Samsung TV owner who frequently curses at the TV whenever DJT is on, should I assume I am now on THE LIST of potential threats to national security? I never knew watching CNN in my pyjamas with a nice cup of tea was being so edgy and dangerous.
So maybe they should extend the travel ban to any country that has TV, the internet or telephones just to be on the safe side.
So maybe they should extend the travel ban to any country that has TV, the internet or telephones just to be on the safe side.
13
You were on that "list" the moment President Obama's administration put you on it.
After all, and in case you can't read, these issues were all in effect for years.
Don't let that stop you from cursing at DJT, though. It's good to have a least one misplaced psychosis, if it makes you feel better about yourself, that is.
After all, and in case you can't read, these issues were all in effect for years.
Don't let that stop you from cursing at DJT, though. It's good to have a least one misplaced psychosis, if it makes you feel better about yourself, that is.
Remember these WikiLeaks documents are "alleged" to come from the CIA. There's no proof!
It's very easy to forge or edit digital documents. WikiLeaks mixed Real documents with the Fake ones, to make them seem credible.
If we interpret what some (fake) documents say, we see ridiculous claims:
• If the CIA could hack any smartphone, why didn't they hack the San Bernadino phones and get the contents -- why the months-long public fights?
• If the gov't or CIA could, they could hack the smartphones of any foreign leader or even of any terrorist, extract essential info -- and take action to destabilize those countries or terrorist operations. This ability would give the CIA unprecedented amazing powers... BUT SADLY THEY CAN'T.
• They claim Smartphones and encrypted apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram are now compromised, that CIA can intercept data entered before being encrypted. A SUBTERFUGE: So here's the odd part -- why does WikiLeaks mention the apps, if the apps themselves don't matter? The underlying data entered in the OS is "accessible to the CIA" before apps get it. So it's extremely odd that WikiLeaks even mentions apps -- when they're irrelevant. We should ask, why do they mention any apps, let alone the apps with strong security? It's subterfuge!
THE TRUTH:
The CIA & governments CAN NOT hack "any" smartphone, computer, or smart TV that they want. In the real world, they CAN hack SOME devices.
This "leak" is meant only to scare people -- and to help Trump.
It's very easy to forge or edit digital documents. WikiLeaks mixed Real documents with the Fake ones, to make them seem credible.
If we interpret what some (fake) documents say, we see ridiculous claims:
• If the CIA could hack any smartphone, why didn't they hack the San Bernadino phones and get the contents -- why the months-long public fights?
• If the gov't or CIA could, they could hack the smartphones of any foreign leader or even of any terrorist, extract essential info -- and take action to destabilize those countries or terrorist operations. This ability would give the CIA unprecedented amazing powers... BUT SADLY THEY CAN'T.
• They claim Smartphones and encrypted apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram are now compromised, that CIA can intercept data entered before being encrypted. A SUBTERFUGE: So here's the odd part -- why does WikiLeaks mention the apps, if the apps themselves don't matter? The underlying data entered in the OS is "accessible to the CIA" before apps get it. So it's extremely odd that WikiLeaks even mentions apps -- when they're irrelevant. We should ask, why do they mention any apps, let alone the apps with strong security? It's subterfuge!
THE TRUTH:
The CIA & governments CAN NOT hack "any" smartphone, computer, or smart TV that they want. In the real world, they CAN hack SOME devices.
This "leak" is meant only to scare people -- and to help Trump.
6
The same could be said about Hillary's emails--most of them were taken out of context and didn't really reveal much--it was all an illusion of what they supposedly stood for. Trump is up to his usual devious gaslighting of the American people--especially his base who he knows he cannot afford to lose in support.
Wickileaks does not publish leaks of documents from Russia. They (Assange) are a tool of Russia used to attack the US. We should shut them down. It's just not clear if Trump, also a tool of Russia will block any such attempt.
8
We have no reason to think that Wikileaks can get leaked documents from Russia. It is not an open society. It has never treated whistle-blowers well.
There is no reason to think that Wikileaks turns down any leaks, or sits on them.
There is no reason to think that Wikileaks turns down any leaks, or sits on them.
4
No coincidence that Assange has unleashed this, less than three days after Donald's wilding on Twitter about President Obama.
When will the GOP stop neglecting the citizens of this country for the sake of their next opportunity to keep their seats in Congress?
I, wholeheartedly, believe Trump/Putin/Assange are in cahoots, and it's beyond my ability to comprehend the continued "sick" partisanship of our representatives to hear this clear evidence of imminent danger to the American people; yet, they remain silent.
I'll bet -- as this reader was -- they were surprised to hear that Samsung smart TVs have the capability of recording, something the garden-variety consumer would not be aware of.
You can be sure they are all calling home tonight to ask what brand of smart TV sits in their dens while they watch Fox News.
When will the GOP stop neglecting the citizens of this country for the sake of their next opportunity to keep their seats in Congress?
I, wholeheartedly, believe Trump/Putin/Assange are in cahoots, and it's beyond my ability to comprehend the continued "sick" partisanship of our representatives to hear this clear evidence of imminent danger to the American people; yet, they remain silent.
I'll bet -- as this reader was -- they were surprised to hear that Samsung smart TVs have the capability of recording, something the garden-variety consumer would not be aware of.
You can be sure they are all calling home tonight to ask what brand of smart TV sits in their dens while they watch Fox News.
8
So much for clean hands.
Why did the NYT fail to mention the part about the CIA "targeting French political parties and candidates in the lead up to the 2012 presidential election," as mentioned in the first three sentences of the press release?
Are we Americans not to hear about how our own government has tried (succeeded?) in manipulating foreign democratic elections? Of our allies even? And shouldn't there be a journalist somewhere with the audacity to ask if, perhaps, any of our intelligence agencies are now actively engaged in the same pursuits? (There are at least three consequential elections coming up in European countries this year, and we've all heard the rumors/allegations of Russian skulduggery regarding these upcoming elections.)
I'm all for realpolitik. Just don't bore me with one-sided moralizing...
Why did the NYT fail to mention the part about the CIA "targeting French political parties and candidates in the lead up to the 2012 presidential election," as mentioned in the first three sentences of the press release?
Are we Americans not to hear about how our own government has tried (succeeded?) in manipulating foreign democratic elections? Of our allies even? And shouldn't there be a journalist somewhere with the audacity to ask if, perhaps, any of our intelligence agencies are now actively engaged in the same pursuits? (There are at least three consequential elections coming up in European countries this year, and we've all heard the rumors/allegations of Russian skulduggery regarding these upcoming elections.)
I'm all for realpolitik. Just don't bore me with one-sided moralizing...
8
I was raised to question authority so when Wikileaks started exposing things a long time ago I welcomed it. Today I find myself feeling on the defense for the CIA. It's one thing to question authority, but Wikileaks seems intent on only exposing secrets of the U.S. government, and I don't think they are doing it alone. I question the motives of why they are only targeting the U.S. Who is behind the curtain pulling and it for you, Wikileaks?
13
Good. This helps me sleep at night. I would be more worried if we did not have these tools.
8
Yes the CIA is watching over you as you sleep.
Wikileaks is just an arm of Putin's Russia, in my opinion.
15
Awefully convenient timing. CIA has info on Trump, and then all of a sudden there's a big reveal about the CIA?
People, we already knew the CIA could do this. This is simply a shiny thing to make people think that, since the CIA is "bad", that we can't trust them.
Nothing in this story changes the fact that there may be links between Trump and Russia, and if found, they are then still true.
For God's sake, a bunch of other bad stuff doesn't make the first bad stuff not true!
People, we already knew the CIA could do this. This is simply a shiny thing to make people think that, since the CIA is "bad", that we can't trust them.
Nothing in this story changes the fact that there may be links between Trump and Russia, and if found, they are then still true.
For God's sake, a bunch of other bad stuff doesn't make the first bad stuff not true!
18
The attention span of the news media and bloggers alike is infinitesimal.
Too bad for the Nazis that Wikilcnks failed to release documents on the Invasion of Normandy!
3
Here is the Orwellian prophecy finally come true, the two-way "telescreen".
Like Winston in the novel "1984", we will now all be looking for hidden alcoves in our kitchens to converse and write our diaries in, free from the all-probing eyes and ears of our television sets.
Brave New World, indeed.
Like Winston in the novel "1984", we will now all be looking for hidden alcoves in our kitchens to converse and write our diaries in, free from the all-probing eyes and ears of our television sets.
Brave New World, indeed.
8
never trusted the govt before ... and will continue to mistrust the govt
they are literally one step above a mafia organization
they are literally one step above a mafia organization
8
And now we have a Don.
3
Is CIA the same agency that told the American people that Saddam Hussein has WMDs and therefore war against Iraq was justified? Is it the CIA that been involved in covert operation for regime change as suggested by Wikipedia. Now the CIA is on the receiving end and intelligence from the CIA has been hacked into. Why is it such a serious blow? Will it reveal that the CIA has been spying on Americans including the president?Is it one more mess that president Trump has inherited that is too complicated and beyond his comprehension? Is the swamp too wide and too deep to drain? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_regime_change
4
Why should any of us be surprised? I thought the C.I.A. was only supposed to deal with foreign countries. Perhaps if you are contacting or doing business with foreign countries or businesses they want to listen in. Of course Snowden is in Russia so what is the connection with Russia, Snowden and Putin. This is a good way to take the heat off the Trump administrations connection to Putin and the meddling in the election. Keep in mind that Trump did not win the popular vote.
5
After 9/11, the Patriot Act created by former President, George Bush, there is no more privacy in the name of national security, and America becomes the problem of the world, so there is nothing news about the Vault 7 at all, by now the newly elect President Donald Trump should stop to complain the hacking his Palace, Trump Tower in New York, but take action to clean up the MESS by issuing one more executive order by restoring the privacy of all citizens, including himself, especially, transparency is the key, that is, to honor the freedom of speech!!! 03/07/2017
As the Russians win more elections worldwide, WikiLeaks will run of exposable documents.
3
Hack, hack, who's there?
Russ
Russ who?
Russ in to judgment....
Russ
Russ who?
Russ in to judgment....
1
There's a whole lot more to what Wikileaks released today than what you'd gather from this NYTimes story, which is what is known in intelligence parlance as a "limited hangout."
Make sure you don't get all your information only from this story. Particularly as it relates to commandeering and using other nations' malware and surveillance tech to frame them for hacking that was actually done by CIA.
Make sure you don't get all your information only from this story. Particularly as it relates to commandeering and using other nations' malware and surveillance tech to frame them for hacking that was actually done by CIA.
7
Assange is still at the Equator Embassy in London but may be turned over next month after the presidential elections there - he is running out of time thus scared. He is hoping for Trump compassion. Good luck.
8
Thanks to Trump's buddy he can blame his weird Tweets on someone else!
So....... what is the probability someone in the Trump administration is working with/for WikiLeaks? Strange - Trump tweeted "Wire Tap" rant and then WikiLeaks posts documents. Just a thought.
1
No wonder Trump is so worried about taps! With all the Tweeting on his compromised phone and all the TV watching he does on TVs that are watching back at him - we should know everything about him!
Makes the Russian Kompromat files on Trump all the more believable - if the NSA can get in - then the Russians can do so too - even if recycling or piggybacking on American know-how.
Now the Republicans and Trump are trying to divert our attention by stealing our health coverage.
Makes the Russian Kompromat files on Trump all the more believable - if the NSA can get in - then the Russians can do so too - even if recycling or piggybacking on American know-how.
Now the Republicans and Trump are trying to divert our attention by stealing our health coverage.
1
See where a culture of leaking gets you? Snowden living comfortably in Russia making award winning movies and writing columns. Manning gets off after only SIX years as a gift to the transgender community. Russians hack DNC over a year ago and nobody seems to know which end is up in the investigation(s). Legions of well placed sources leaking classified data and even wiretaps of American citizens with impunity. The press and the left lionizing anyone who commits these acts. Why should it surprise anybody that this just gets worse and worse and worse. History will look back and mark that the American century didn't end in 1999. We were still living into the 2000's until the intelligentsia decided that for the world's benefit we should tear the place asunder from the inside. What a terrible shame. Hopefully the liberal elites and free press and civilian controlled military in Russia and China will be as magnanimous with us as we were with them. Oh wait...
2
How can so many of you want to put, and keep, your heads in the sand. Are the Russians your enemy? Or the CIA? or the NSA? Or Apple? Or Amazon? Or Samsung's listening TVs? Or the Barbie that spies on your kid and reports her preferences to big data that re-sells your daughter to advertisers and eventually insurers, future employers, the whole deep state, the oligarchy, and all the rest.
So who again is your enemy? Oh yeah, you don't care and don't wanna know. Anyway, you've got nothing to hide, right? you and yours and sure nobody's bad hombres -- not yet anyway. Until you've got no jobs, clean air or water, or dry sea level land, and a lot of competition for the little that's left for you proles.
So who again is your enemy? Oh yeah, you don't care and don't wanna know. Anyway, you've got nothing to hide, right? you and yours and sure nobody's bad hombres -- not yet anyway. Until you've got no jobs, clean air or water, or dry sea level land, and a lot of competition for the little that's left for you proles.
6
The Internet is a minefield.
NY Times prints classified information on their front page, yet is concerned that wikileaks is doing the same thing; just not in line with the Times' attack dogs.
2
OKAY.
Which one of the Trump newbies that was let into the intelligence community sent this to Wikileaks?
Was it Steve Bannon?
Which one of the Trump newbies that was let into the intelligence community sent this to Wikileaks?
Was it Steve Bannon?
3
Frightening as it is that Assange and Putin appear to have an unholy alliance against democracy; it should be no surprise.
Who BENEFITS from these leaks? Arguably Trump's Russia!
Connect the dots: Assange's attorney represented Snowden and helped him escape from Hong Kong to Russia. Putin grants Snowden asylum, basically waving the big finger at Obama. Obama supports Clinton for President. Putin hates Clinton due to her comment in 2011 that "parliamentary elections his country held were rigged." Irony yes? Putin had strong connections to Trump and his campaign. The only e-mails hacked/leaked were DNC's and Clinton's or her surrogates (what I would have given to see Reince Priebus' e-mails during the election). Add all of that to Trump's real estate dealings in Russia and you have a love match from hell.
If Trump doesn't take a stand against Assange, and for our privacy in general; the writing is on the wall.
Who BENEFITS from these leaks? Arguably Trump's Russia!
Connect the dots: Assange's attorney represented Snowden and helped him escape from Hong Kong to Russia. Putin grants Snowden asylum, basically waving the big finger at Obama. Obama supports Clinton for President. Putin hates Clinton due to her comment in 2011 that "parliamentary elections his country held were rigged." Irony yes? Putin had strong connections to Trump and his campaign. The only e-mails hacked/leaked were DNC's and Clinton's or her surrogates (what I would have given to see Reince Priebus' e-mails during the election). Add all of that to Trump's real estate dealings in Russia and you have a love match from hell.
If Trump doesn't take a stand against Assange, and for our privacy in general; the writing is on the wall.
5
I'm sure the CIA is reading all the comments here and feeling quite pleased that people seem more accepting of the surveillance state and less forgiving of wikileaks. When the left has become right, what is left?
8
On the one hand we want to give the Government all the tools they need to root out terrorists. On the other hand we don't want the Government to have those tools because they might hack my smartphone. Seriously, I think the folks in the Government actually have to spend a lot of time protecting our (and their) families from terrorism to waste time on my smartphone (if I had one). What is of concern is a President who seems more concerned with our personal affairs than with terrorists and our real enemies.
3
Just don't forget that Jeff Sessions Our Attorney General lied verbally and in writing during his confirmation hearing. That is a crime for which he should be charged and tried as well as be forced to resign.
1
Sessions will not resign. Obamagate is going to dominate the news for months now
3
Dream on Comrade Shoshana.
Lets see, first he said "I thought you meant campaign staff." Of course he was one of the campaigns staff. Then it got obscured by the false tap claim for a bit and now his excuse is...wait for it.
"I did not know you meant 'over the years'."
Aside from that meaningless phrase what we do know is that he met the Ambassador at the GOP convention where we can safely assume Mr Sessions was working closely with the campaign as what did he call it? "a surrogate", then again in his office on Capital Hill in fall 2016.
I'm not sure how that fall under "over the years" well it doesn't since the phrase is meaningless, but you go ahead and imagine that means something other than "I can't find a better way to get out from under my mendacity".
Remember its not the why of his lie that matters here, whatever the reason and I am sure it is stupid and petty. It is the fact that he lied that is the important thing.
Lets see, first he said "I thought you meant campaign staff." Of course he was one of the campaigns staff. Then it got obscured by the false tap claim for a bit and now his excuse is...wait for it.
"I did not know you meant 'over the years'."
Aside from that meaningless phrase what we do know is that he met the Ambassador at the GOP convention where we can safely assume Mr Sessions was working closely with the campaign as what did he call it? "a surrogate", then again in his office on Capital Hill in fall 2016.
I'm not sure how that fall under "over the years" well it doesn't since the phrase is meaningless, but you go ahead and imagine that means something other than "I can't find a better way to get out from under my mendacity".
Remember its not the why of his lie that matters here, whatever the reason and I am sure it is stupid and petty. It is the fact that he lied that is the important thing.
"I love Wikileaks"
-----------So-called President Donald J. Trump
2016, Campaign Speech
-----------So-called President Donald J. Trump
2016, Campaign Speech
15
1984 is here and we, ourselves, have paid for the intrusion via a family cellphone plan.
16
Only worry if you & your family are harming the USA.....otherwise, unless we have a "rogue" President & administration.....oh......we are in trouble.
1
Does no one think it odd that last weekend Trump accused Obama of wiretapping his phone lines in Trump tower and then four days later Wikileaks put out their hacked info that the CIA (via Russia hacks) which purports that the CIA has the capacity to do just that? Sort of like Trump in July entreating Russia to "find" Clinton's emails. Which the Russians then shortly did via Wikileaks. I find what has happened in the last fours days extremely odd. And very suspicious. And probably criminal. And distracting to the unrepairable damage Trump, Bannon and the GOP is currently perpetrating on my beautiful country.
31
Trump said Obama wire tapped the phones ("tapped my wires") in Trump Tower. I interpreted that to specifically mean his landlines which are not the the subject of the article.
It feels good to be vindicated… Like I said time and time again: There’s no point in encryption as long as you can use screen capture software to spy on people...
4
Isn't it awfully convenient that Wikileaks has just come out with more inflammatory material - and this time about the CIA. Just when Trump & Co. are trying to wriggle out from under the cloud of a possible election conspiracy with the Kremlin. It seems so fortunate for Trump that now one of our major intelligence agencies is being attacked by Wikileaks and, like many other commentators here, I strongly suspect that Putin/Assange/Bannon have probably planned it that way, to further their ridiculous accusations about Obama and distract from the real problems.
28
Why is the US allowing this foreign entity to mess with our system of government? The sole purpose of the leaks is to influence government decisions. That is the task of American citizens, no one else. US: shut this down.
11
So this conspiracy between the Trump campaign, the Russians and Wikileaks expands into Assange taking the lead on misdirecting the press coverage away from the investigation of the Trump campaign misdeeds.
Yawn.
This country's institutions built to protect our democracy will not be redirected from finding the truth.
Be forewarned though; when chasing a pig, the closer it is to being caught, the louder it will squeal.
Anyone and everyone will be accused by Trump and his surrogates of plotting against him.
Don't be surprised if they even throw in Mother Teresa.
The slow steady march towards impeachment and eventual removal of this travesty (called Trump) against our country will continue.
Yawn.
This country's institutions built to protect our democracy will not be redirected from finding the truth.
Be forewarned though; when chasing a pig, the closer it is to being caught, the louder it will squeal.
Anyone and everyone will be accused by Trump and his surrogates of plotting against him.
Don't be surprised if they even throw in Mother Teresa.
The slow steady march towards impeachment and eventual removal of this travesty (called Trump) against our country will continue.
40
" TRUMPILEAKS " ??? Just asking.
4
Maybe Trump is right. Someone did tap into the TT's phones. Looks easy to do.
5
What is the motive for undermining the CIA? Surely everyone by now is aware of privacy concerns in our increasingly connected world. The average person does not stand a chance, be it from hackers breaking into Target or Home Depot, to the more sophisticated hacking by world governments.
Privacy is basically a fallacy at this point - a thing of the past. We want to trust our government to do the right thing with it's vast stores of information, but that is tied directly into the notion of trust and a belief in shared values.
Under the current political climate trust is evaporating like fog before the sun. Our country is divided ideologically. We seem transfixed by childish tweets in the middle of the night, distracted by the sheer volume of half truths, misrepresentations and outlandish lies careening across the airwaves. I have no trust in the government currently in office. I seem to share no values with almost half the country and believe that our elected officials have basically been bought and paid for by the Koch brothers and the DeVoss family among others. I find this more distressing than whether our intelligence and security services are capable of listening in without my knowledge.
The concept of safety, feeling safe, believing the government will protect us has basically disappeared with or without WikiLeaks.
Privacy is basically a fallacy at this point - a thing of the past. We want to trust our government to do the right thing with it's vast stores of information, but that is tied directly into the notion of trust and a belief in shared values.
Under the current political climate trust is evaporating like fog before the sun. Our country is divided ideologically. We seem transfixed by childish tweets in the middle of the night, distracted by the sheer volume of half truths, misrepresentations and outlandish lies careening across the airwaves. I have no trust in the government currently in office. I seem to share no values with almost half the country and believe that our elected officials have basically been bought and paid for by the Koch brothers and the DeVoss family among others. I find this more distressing than whether our intelligence and security services are capable of listening in without my knowledge.
The concept of safety, feeling safe, believing the government will protect us has basically disappeared with or without WikiLeaks.
12
For those commenters who stated "we have lost our privacy long ago this is no biggie" consider how all of these mechanisms influence self-sensorship. In a world fully connected by "Smart" devices the next logical step will a hesitation to be honest with yourself. Those secrets may one day be your political affilication, what your reading, etc.
5
Is this Mr. Assange's attempt to persuade the gullible and the conspiracy theorists that Trump's tale of Obama spying on him is true?
12
Isn't it curious that Wikileaks never seems to hack the Russians? If they have, I'd like to know what they found.
12
It would be great if Wikileaks would hack the Donald's tax returns.
17
Wikileaks doesn't "hack", they leak what is provided to them. By the way, they've been asking for Trump's tax returns since long before the election.
The novel, "A Dark Pefection" by Mark James, predicted almost 3 yrs ago that the NSA would use TVs to spy on the citizenry.
Two yrs before Snowden, it predicted that the NSA was sifting all domestic emails.
Hmmm....
Two yrs before Snowden, it predicted that the NSA was sifting all domestic emails.
Hmmm....
1
Don't worry, friends, the CIA would never target YOU. You're a US citizen. These tools are ONLY intended for our enemies (and they have "enemy of USA" tattooed on their foreheads) so they would NEVER be applied at home.
Relax, have a cookie and a glass of warm milk, and go to sleep. Everything will be FINE in the morning.
Relax, have a cookie and a glass of warm milk, and go to sleep. Everything will be FINE in the morning.
10
I assume these "holes" will be patched in the products mentioned.
3
Please, NYTimes, assure me your site is secure, I'd hate for anyone to read this.
With all the blabbing we do these days, what's there to steal that's worth anything?
With all the blabbing we do these days, what's there to steal that's worth anything?
1
Another leak at the CIA by some renegades and no one still believes that candidate Trump had his private communications and computers tapped? Very dangerous time in America, makes one wonder who is really running the country! Welcome to "Oz" just follow the, ok you know the rest!
4
Wow, you took this one hook line and sinker. We already knew the CIA did this kind of thing. Have you asked yourself why this happened to come out - again, something you already knew - right after Trump accused someone of ordering it to be done?
2
Well . . . who didn't know that your smart television could be used as a microphone, etc.? (I have a dumb t.v.; can't afford one of those fancy ones.) I for one will not be persuaded to stop watching Congress. Those people have been VERY busy. I realized during the campaign that some of what Trump & Co. say are for the purpose of dissuading the American people from watching what's going on behind the curtain, i.e. smoke & mirrors. Let's not let them get us all wound up about issues that don't really matter. Let's keep genuine, relevant issue-based debate alive.
2
How does disseminating information about hacking my personal devices to more bad actors benefit me? Screw this egomaniac. He's on the wrong side of history.
Snowden I consider a patriot. This idiot is an anarchist.
Snowden I consider a patriot. This idiot is an anarchist.
3
Traditional liberalism has evidently disappeared from the political landscape. There was a time when to be a liberal meant valuing individual freedom from government tyranny and upholding the Constitution and its Bill of Rights. Now, I read comments here cheering on the CIA to continue its violation of basic rights of Americans, as long as the CIA continues illegal leaking of the current president's phone conversations, private policy discussions, and personal matters. The fact that the CIA is now involved in illegal searches of Americans' homes and hacking their cars does not seem to phase the new generation of leftism. When did liberals go over to the dark side?
8
Wow! so everyone and everything is getting recorded?
my family's daily fights for the tv remote, Obama practising his speeches, Trump making his deals, my uncle Bob cursing everything under the sun...
and all this getting filed in one big place?
True democracy I would say. Everyone is equal and everyone is getting a chance to be heard.
my family's daily fights for the tv remote, Obama practising his speeches, Trump making his deals, my uncle Bob cursing everything under the sun...
and all this getting filed in one big place?
True democracy I would say. Everyone is equal and everyone is getting a chance to be heard.
1
Of course the FSB is trying to compromise CIA/NSA and the Democrats. We would be very naive to think that they don;t have similarly damaging information about Trump and his minions.
That this information is not released can mean only one of two things: the goal is to support Trump and they are using it to blackmail the GOP & Trump.
That this information is not released can mean only one of two things: the goal is to support Trump and they are using it to blackmail the GOP & Trump.
1
I've known about much of what has been written in this article since Edward Snowden first came forward to reveal it to the world. He called cell phones tracking devices that make phone calls and he said the mics could be turned on without your knowledge. Like most people I feel I've got nothing to hide, but just knowing that much was enough for me to refuse to own a cell or smart phone, smart tvs, or appliances, or carry mobile device such as laptops around with me. My car as well has no gps or voice recognition devices inside.
I frankly am mystified why the average person seems to be comfortable with the possibility of being under perhaps constant surveillance. I believe that they believe no one would turn on their mics or photo cameras, read their texts, etc., but the possibility nonetheless, is real. I don’t consider myself paranoid, but informed. I have one computer in my den with a door that I keep closed. That's all I feel I need.
People seem to be waiting for new laws or policy changes or to companies for privacy protection. But there are also choices that you can make right now to protect yourself in the meantime.
I frankly am mystified why the average person seems to be comfortable with the possibility of being under perhaps constant surveillance. I believe that they believe no one would turn on their mics or photo cameras, read their texts, etc., but the possibility nonetheless, is real. I don’t consider myself paranoid, but informed. I have one computer in my den with a door that I keep closed. That's all I feel I need.
People seem to be waiting for new laws or policy changes or to companies for privacy protection. But there are also choices that you can make right now to protect yourself in the meantime.
9
Be careful admitting that you overtly avoided owning cell phones, smart TVs GPS etc. Intelligence agencies will be asking "what have you got to hide?" & act accordingly.
1
When people say "who cares if the government is spying on people, I do nothing wrong so they wouldn't care about me" they are missing the point. That IS the problem. Why is the government doing this? And, if they can use our computer, phones, and TVs to spy on us, someone else could easily do it too.
2
I find it quite bizarre that Wikileaks (supplied with intel by Russia) is always found to be walking in tandem with Trump. They supplied his material against Hillary and now they are supplying his material against the Intel Community. Coincidence again?
11
Outrage against the CIA having hacking tools is not well thought out. Do opponents think that Russia and China don't have similar capabilities? Should the CIA sit idly by and let opponents hack our security, our political parties and elections and us have no capabilities to respond or identify our attackers? I'd be outraged if the CIA did not have such tools to protect us!
On the other hand, the only sure fire way of avoiding internet hacking is simply to pull the plug on the Ethernet cord or the wireless network. Hacking is here to stay. The better the security system, the more clever the hackers become. Americans seem to demand ease of access and convenience and value that beyond security. We can't always have both at the same time. If you want some capability to be 100% secure, pull the plug and suffer the resulting inconvenience. If we absolutely "need" the convenience, then hacking is the price we will pay.
On the other hand, the only sure fire way of avoiding internet hacking is simply to pull the plug on the Ethernet cord or the wireless network. Hacking is here to stay. The better the security system, the more clever the hackers become. Americans seem to demand ease of access and convenience and value that beyond security. We can't always have both at the same time. If you want some capability to be 100% secure, pull the plug and suffer the resulting inconvenience. If we absolutely "need" the convenience, then hacking is the price we will pay.
1
So how is it that the CIA has all these expensive, powerful, creative and cutting-edge espionage tools, but decided to go with "freeware" for their firewall?
Seriously. American intel is a joke. They blew it on 9/11. They blew it on WMDs in Iraq.
It took them 10 years after receiving actionable intel from waterboarding to get Bin Laden.
They blew it on ISIS, Iran, Syria and North Korea.
And now they get hacked by Assange, who is such a genius that he spends most of his time holed up in the embassy having mensa-level conversations with Pamela Anderson
Come to think of it. The CIA is so pathetic they probably got hacked by Pamela,
Seriously. American intel is a joke. They blew it on 9/11. They blew it on WMDs in Iraq.
It took them 10 years after receiving actionable intel from waterboarding to get Bin Laden.
They blew it on ISIS, Iran, Syria and North Korea.
And now they get hacked by Assange, who is such a genius that he spends most of his time holed up in the embassy having mensa-level conversations with Pamela Anderson
Come to think of it. The CIA is so pathetic they probably got hacked by Pamela,
3
I've been in tech for 25 years, and my world is not "rocked". The USA needed this capability, so the USA built this capability.
2
Thank you for saying this. Everyone else, stop getting all fired up. This isn't new. This is just Wikileaks helping Trump.
1
Nothing new here. The CIA and NSA have been up to this sort of thing for decades. Just business as usual and the reason the Trump presidency has been under relentless attack by leakers--criminals--from behind the Langley "holy wall". Obsessed with the Kremlin since Ames made fools of them, not to mention their hand-in-glove help with the Bush-Cheney WMD war that cost thousands of lives, both sides, and trillions.
It seems Trump's not much of a Langley "genuflector", unlike Congress, while Obama, obviously, sucked up to them, and got a free and breezy eight-year ride and still seems to be benefiting--who needs the FBI/FISC/Title III when you've got the NSA on your team--ask Merkel.
Time for our Sovietized Washington-New York City broadcast media to trot out the "usual suspects"--Brennan, Clapper, and Hayden?
It seems Trump's not much of a Langley "genuflector", unlike Congress, while Obama, obviously, sucked up to them, and got a free and breezy eight-year ride and still seems to be benefiting--who needs the FBI/FISC/Title III when you've got the NSA on your team--ask Merkel.
Time for our Sovietized Washington-New York City broadcast media to trot out the "usual suspects"--Brennan, Clapper, and Hayden?
4
Dear President Trump and members of Congress:
#1. Declassify and open to the public ALL documents of the FBI, CIA, NSA, ONI, and other intelligence agencies and contractors! Most of these “top-secret” files are kept secret primarily to avoid embarrassment. As we know from WikiLeaks, we’ve ALL potentially been monitored and “wiretapped” by anyone with a Radio Shack scanner ever since cordless phones and cell phones. There are NO secrets over the airwaves. Any good P.I. has cheap but sensitive listening devices that can penetrate the walls of your house or apartment and pick up every sound. Big Brother has been listening to us for a very long time. Almost every conversation held by high-level “foreigners” is routinely monitored by various intelligence agencies, and if we happen to be on the other end of the line….or airwave….
#1. Declassify and open to the public ALL documents of the FBI, CIA, NSA, ONI, and other intelligence agencies and contractors! Most of these “top-secret” files are kept secret primarily to avoid embarrassment. As we know from WikiLeaks, we’ve ALL potentially been monitored and “wiretapped” by anyone with a Radio Shack scanner ever since cordless phones and cell phones. There are NO secrets over the airwaves. Any good P.I. has cheap but sensitive listening devices that can penetrate the walls of your house or apartment and pick up every sound. Big Brother has been listening to us for a very long time. Almost every conversation held by high-level “foreigners” is routinely monitored by various intelligence agencies, and if we happen to be on the other end of the line….or airwave….
2
To me, this is Russia's way of getting back at the U.S. intelligence community for its (hopeful) resistance to Trump and his (unpatriotic) support of Russia. This is how Wikileaks makes money. What about Russia's intelligence? What strategies do Russia any other countries use to spy? Probably in similar ways. No surprising news here; it's a way to distract Americans and their media from more important situations regarding the Trump Administration. Let's keep the focus on what is truly significant to American democracy.
7
One would think, with all the darn information they have on us, we might get some help!
2
You have the attacking motives, conspiracies, and then there's the documents, which most commenters today don't want to discuss like they did want to discuss when Bush was president in the 00's.
Quite a change around here.
Quite a change around here.
3
Timing of this leak sure seems fortuitous. Keep your eye on the big story NYT.
16
Signal and Telegram have shown to be popular with ISIS, no? And What's app, while more mainstream is popular due to it's ability to aid communication between cultures and languages. WOuldn't it make sense that the CIA would want to monitor people using these?
There have been several articles from tech publications over the last couple years warning that those apps weren't secure, so there.
I agree with the highly rated comment here - if you don't think that you and everyone has at least the possibility of being monitored in this day and age you are deluded.
I've got a piece of tape over my laptop camera, just like Mark Zuckerberg.
There have been several articles from tech publications over the last couple years warning that those apps weren't secure, so there.
I agree with the highly rated comment here - if you don't think that you and everyone has at least the possibility of being monitored in this day and age you are deluded.
I've got a piece of tape over my laptop camera, just like Mark Zuckerberg.
6
It's possible that Wikileaks is performing a public service, but there are several things that give me pause. First, who really believes the US is the only place that does this sort of thing? Second, it's never really clear to me that the things Wikileaks exposes are a net positive; it frequently seems like the problem they expose results in the creation of a new problem that is even worse. Third, Wikileaks is clearly a partisan organization. I would be more favorably inclined towards Wikileaks if they would release Donald Trump's tax returns.
12
If my Smart TV's are listening in on me, I hope the listeners are up for hours of inane one-sided phone calls to and from government red tape vendors and doctors' offices, punctuated by my silly comments to my cats.
8
I suggest the "Dumb Phone" solution. One can still buy a Verizon Gusto 3 Prepaid Flip Phone for $9.98 at Walmart. You're welcome.
10
And? Use it for what? The CIA is still monitoring the calls.
1
I'm glad that the CIA can hack smartphones. They should need a warrant to do so, but allowing there to be a worldwide form of communication that cannot in any way be surveilled would be a huge danger. Terrorist outfits would have free reign. They could even use phones to detonate explosives. I'm willing to give up a little privacy to avoid this.
5
Interesting that Assange does not have Putin's methods.
Or Iran's.
Or China's.
Or North Korea's.
Or Israel's.
Or Iran's.
Or China's.
Or North Korea's.
Or Israel's.
6
Now we know that Obama could have originated the Russia story and made it to look like Trump's campaign collaborated. We do know that Sessions met with the Russian foreign minister at Obama's behest. We also know that somebody tapped Trump's phone calls with foreign leaders. We also know Flynn was in Trump tower when his call was tapped. I don't blame Trump for distrusting intel. Who does.
5
@GI remote:
Before anyone flies off the handle and starts going down conspiracy theories.... remember that these documents are ALLEGED to have come from the CIA. No proof was given. And we know how easy it is to forge or edit digital documents. WikiLeaks (or the "originators" of these docs) can mix real documents, with the fake ones, to make them all seem credible.
So before you assume any of this is real.... take a chill pill.
Then... look at who it benefits... the Liar-In-Chief.
(remember the election... who benefited from the "Hillary leaks"?)
If you don't believe this... think hard. IF the CIA could truly hack any smartphone, why wouldn't they just hack Michael Flynn's phone (to see where he was at all times, maybe at the Russian embassy, and have him followed, and record his conversations using his phone). Ditto for Steve Bannon, and Kushner, and Sessions. If the CIA could do this, they'd know EVERYTHING that these "bad hombres" in our government have done. And have it all on record. Just imagine!!!
But the reality is, they can't do this. They CAN hack some devices, but not ANY device they want.
This "leak" is a subterfuge, to help a Great-Big-Liar-In-Chief.
It's a scare-tactic.
Before anyone flies off the handle and starts going down conspiracy theories.... remember that these documents are ALLEGED to have come from the CIA. No proof was given. And we know how easy it is to forge or edit digital documents. WikiLeaks (or the "originators" of these docs) can mix real documents, with the fake ones, to make them all seem credible.
So before you assume any of this is real.... take a chill pill.
Then... look at who it benefits... the Liar-In-Chief.
(remember the election... who benefited from the "Hillary leaks"?)
If you don't believe this... think hard. IF the CIA could truly hack any smartphone, why wouldn't they just hack Michael Flynn's phone (to see where he was at all times, maybe at the Russian embassy, and have him followed, and record his conversations using his phone). Ditto for Steve Bannon, and Kushner, and Sessions. If the CIA could do this, they'd know EVERYTHING that these "bad hombres" in our government have done. And have it all on record. Just imagine!!!
But the reality is, they can't do this. They CAN hack some devices, but not ANY device they want.
This "leak" is a subterfuge, to help a Great-Big-Liar-In-Chief.
It's a scare-tactic.
I want the transcripts of all calls by and to Donald Trump, his campaign cadre and his administration and appointees. Since android phones can be hacked, and that is what he and his cronies are using, it shouldn't be too hard. Now please.
15
You mean to tell me that the IRS has better systems to protect its information than the CIA? I'm glad my tax returns are safe. Ahem...
6
Do you think the president's attention could be turned away from the tapping of his own phone, which didn't happen, to the massive leaking or hacking at the CIA, which did? It is, after all, now his responsibility.
8
One technical point on which this article is not clear is that the cryptographic security of particular apps mentioned (i.e., Signal, WhatsApp, and Telegram) were not bypassed or broken. Instead, it was the underlying OS (i.e., iOS or Android) on which the apps were installed that was exploited. Once that happens, any content on the device can be obtained, regardless of the app used.
5
I have long since comes to terms with the fact we live in a total surveillance society and world. I recently watched the great 1998 film "Enemy of the State" with Will Smith and Gene Hackman -- a pre-9/11 film about the CIA, NSA, etc., and about the technological surveillance state.
That film is almost 20 years old.
So I find it hard to "protest" such a world, since it has long been the world we live in, accelerating ever since 9/11.
But what I do worry about is who uses and who controls and who is watching this rise of a global electronic panopticon.
I have no nostalgia for a past that is long gone and cannot be returned to. But I do want my country to guard over this new layer of potential aggression and sabotage.
Privacy is dead. All that shields us now is law, expertise, and good use. The US is actually well-equipped here. The First and Fourth Amendments may be compromised, but they still exist, and I suspect our populace will not long tolerate violations of either if we are talking about mere citizens trying to live their lives as they see fit. Let us hope the bulwarks stand.
That film is almost 20 years old.
So I find it hard to "protest" such a world, since it has long been the world we live in, accelerating ever since 9/11.
But what I do worry about is who uses and who controls and who is watching this rise of a global electronic panopticon.
I have no nostalgia for a past that is long gone and cannot be returned to. But I do want my country to guard over this new layer of potential aggression and sabotage.
Privacy is dead. All that shields us now is law, expertise, and good use. The US is actually well-equipped here. The First and Fourth Amendments may be compromised, but they still exist, and I suspect our populace will not long tolerate violations of either if we are talking about mere citizens trying to live their lives as they see fit. Let us hope the bulwarks stand.
5
I'm afraid of the government being in my home 24/7 even if I'm not a person of interest and I'm afraid of what someone could do if they hacked into what's in my home. For instance, pictures of my child could end up on the internet from her room or someone could blackmail me with recordings of something I said in private.
Why do they need so many cameras and microphones in every home in the US? It makes sense to get them into homes of those that could be our enemies, but not every single person here.
People wouldn't let the police root around their home while they were at work or at home, so why can the government just turn on anything they want that's in your home at any time? What do they need that for? That's what scares me.
I always tell people that aren't worried to give me their Facebook password when they say they don't care. So far, nobody has let me have it yet, but they don't care if the government does in secret.
Why do they need so many cameras and microphones in every home in the US? It makes sense to get them into homes of those that could be our enemies, but not every single person here.
People wouldn't let the police root around their home while they were at work or at home, so why can the government just turn on anything they want that's in your home at any time? What do they need that for? That's what scares me.
I always tell people that aren't worried to give me their Facebook password when they say they don't care. So far, nobody has let me have it yet, but they don't care if the government does in secret.
5
Brandon -
I am not pleased either. But it is the reality of our hyper-technologically advanced world. That is why I said our hope has to be in law, expertise, and good use. And, I think the US is decently equipped for this, as I said. Blackmail, for example, is illegal.
I want to trust, at the end of the day, the reality of our new surveillance era all depends on who is wielding it. But to undo it? To go back in time before the massive computing power that enables big data, etc?
Not gonna happen.
I am not pleased either. But it is the reality of our hyper-technologically advanced world. That is why I said our hope has to be in law, expertise, and good use. And, I think the US is decently equipped for this, as I said. Blackmail, for example, is illegal.
I want to trust, at the end of the day, the reality of our new surveillance era all depends on who is wielding it. But to undo it? To go back in time before the massive computing power that enables big data, etc?
Not gonna happen.
1
Your only fear should be if Trump remains as President for too long, he is likely, as a child would, discard his "tweeting" obsession and begin to play with the spying tools the intelligence agencies have at their disposal......
1
Amazing! Absolutely nothing is safe or secret anymore - EXCEPT of course Trump's tax returns. Can't help but wonder - world governments would probably topple if we knew the extent of the corruption.
12
The Russian connection to influence the election is definitely true, As congress and other agencies are closing in on the Russian hack, there is a pattern of trying to derail that investigation, after Mr Trump attempt last weekend to divert attention, by making a false claim I believe of been wire tapped by President Obama. When the general populace and the press caught on this diversion technique and everyone calling it what it was farse. All of a sudden WikiLeaks comes in with CIA data dump, does any one smell a pattern here. Same happened during the Presidential campaign. People this is another attorney by the Russians to confound and distract the American people about their connection with Mr Trump. Wow
8
IMHO... we need to use "these tools" to crack open and explore the sources for WikiLeaks... then, we need to destroy that site... and all of its contents...
1
As Obama said on "Between 2 Ferns" when Galifinakis expressed fear of someone hacking his phone: "Zack, no one is interested in your texts."
Sign o' the times, when I fear the CIA less than the Executive Branch.
Sign o' the times, when I fear the CIA less than the Executive Branch.
9
America has a long disgusting history of spying on and bugging the phones, cars and homes of Black activists and civil rights' leaders, even planting false evidence on them, in their homes, cars, etc. to harass them, arrest them and ruin their reputation.
Long history of stalking secretively, wiretapping and spying on those considered atheists, agnostics, communists or communist sympathizers.
Long history of bugging Democrats or Republicans who wanted to take on the good ole boys in power, the oligarchs, plutocrats, Wall Street, the Military Industrial Complex...the Establishment. Some people even got assassinated for their beliefs or for trying to confront or change the power system.
People like Edgar Hoover were hypocrites who covered up their own homosexuality by spying on and bugging heterosexuals, Catholics, honest Liberals, Socialists, etc. so he and his entourage, at the FBI, can find some dirt on others, or make up false stories about them, to diminish them, or ruin their reputation. Who'd think a closeted gay homosexual man would do that? But he did, and he enjoyed high status in the FBI. America has a long history of projecting its rubbish, secrets and perversions on others and on the innocent. Even some minorities, especially men, begin to behave like Anglo militant gestapos.
Why are we surprised? When Snowden and Assange came out with details about our domestic surveillance many realized how sick, pathological, dirty and deviant the system had become.
Long history of stalking secretively, wiretapping and spying on those considered atheists, agnostics, communists or communist sympathizers.
Long history of bugging Democrats or Republicans who wanted to take on the good ole boys in power, the oligarchs, plutocrats, Wall Street, the Military Industrial Complex...the Establishment. Some people even got assassinated for their beliefs or for trying to confront or change the power system.
People like Edgar Hoover were hypocrites who covered up their own homosexuality by spying on and bugging heterosexuals, Catholics, honest Liberals, Socialists, etc. so he and his entourage, at the FBI, can find some dirt on others, or make up false stories about them, to diminish them, or ruin their reputation. Who'd think a closeted gay homosexual man would do that? But he did, and he enjoyed high status in the FBI. America has a long history of projecting its rubbish, secrets and perversions on others and on the innocent. Even some minorities, especially men, begin to behave like Anglo militant gestapos.
Why are we surprised? When Snowden and Assange came out with details about our domestic surveillance many realized how sick, pathological, dirty and deviant the system had become.
8
Nothing, absolutely nothing is private anymore. Google and Facebook know everything about you. So why does it come as a shocker, when the government or the CIA or the FBI has a system to intrude on our privacy? Edward Snowden exposed the level of paranoia pervading through the government and the intelligence agencies some years ago. It is extreme paranoia like this that leads to antagonizing and alienating certain populations within the United States and outside as well.
3
The idea of using "National Security" to do things that would otherwise be illegal and unconstitutional is a gaping hole in our system of checks and balances. What's worse, we have no idea if any of the activities are making us at safer due to lack of transparency inherent in the concept.
7
Obama has been turning your country and probably the whole world into a realisation of 1984 behind your backs.
6
It wasn't Obama...it was the advances in technology.
1
Interesting that just 3 days after Putin's puppet Trump falsely accuses Obama of wiretapping him, Putin's other puppet Assange releases this document about the CIA hacking people's phones. I don't believe it is just a coincidence. Putin is still assisting Trump.
9
and don't forget Mr. Trump during the campaign was enjoying releasing information on his opponent released by Wikileaks. If I recall he said "I love Wikileaks", more than once at various events.
7
On March 4th Trump makes a baseless claim of wiretapping.
On March 7 Wikileaks dumps CIA documents describing a wide range of eavesdropping techniques.
Coincidence?
On March 7 Wikileaks dumps CIA documents describing a wide range of eavesdropping techniques.
Coincidence?
6
It should be obvious to anyone that it's the Russians that are feeding this stuff to Wikileaks. It still amazes me that nobody has realized (apparently anyway) why it's the Ecuadoran government that has given asylum to Assange.
4
We can argue forever about the relative merits of leaking this material. Unfortunately, however, working to reveal these in an disruptive way only leaves us, the 9-5 citizen, even more vulnerable than we were when these methods were secret.
3
Sean Hannity of FOX NEWS visited and interviewed Julian Assange at the Ecuadoran Embassy in London on January 2-3, 2017. During the interview, Mr. Assange denied the hackings or any involvement in the 2016 Presidential Election to Sean Hannity. The FOX NEWS anchor believed and proudly supported the founder of WikiLeaks. What's Sean saying now?
4
Will Trump be angry at Wikileaks or will he be happy with what they did? I wonder... NOT!
2
I agree with most, the CIA was created to spy, been doing that for years and now that is news?
3
Does anyone think that Trump's Saturday Morning Massacre tweets accusing Obama of felony wiretaps and now this Wikileak leak are just coincidental?
4
What bothers you more, Trump's Tweets or the CIA spying on you?
NYT, why do you allow Russian propaganda in the name of "fairness"?
Interesting how these leaks - seem to go after one party -
5
Y'know, I at one point had some sympathy for Assange. Now, not so much. I can't think of anyone - outside of Pres. Donald Trump - who has done more damage to this country. Trump did more damage because he is an American citizen SEEKING outside interference in the election. I really don't think we've seen the half of it, as far as the level of discontent involving the current administration. Yep, the CIA does some pretty dastardly deeds. But Mr. Assange should know that the country is still here! And it's citizens (me being one of them) are still free. If they really were as bad as he said, we'd already be in a dictatorship similar to Russia (after all, Putin is a KGB veteran). Mr. Assange should know that he is about as useful in his exposes as James O'Keefe is in his. He really should get a real job.
5
But what about alexa??
4
Ask her yourself. I won't let her in my house.
2
A year ago the FBI had to ask Apple for help in breaking into the San Bernardino terrorists IPhone. So I hardly think the information contained in these documents is that revolutionary.
2
Wikileaks. how convenient. I guess Trump still has use the Putin after all.
Any idea this was not coordinated is totally out the window.
And no doubt Trump will continue to tear apart our country, courtesy of Wikileaks, a joint Trump/Putin venture.
Any idea this was not coordinated is totally out the window.
And no doubt Trump will continue to tear apart our country, courtesy of Wikileaks, a joint Trump/Putin venture.
6
Yes...there is a Russian "mole" in the Trump camp.......taking bets as to who it is?
We need to revisit controls over the "intelligent agencies". Because they (the various agencies) are once again out of control.
If you have nothing to hide ...then you have nothing to fear!
Sorry folks ...but is time to get out of Your Bubble & Face Reality.
Sorry folks ...but is time to get out of Your Bubble & Face Reality.
1
"If you have nothing to hide ...then you have nothing to fear!", said every privacy invading tyrant/despotic regime ever.
1
So here's this liberal's contribution to the public discussion. Wikileaks actions are traitorous. All responsible should be jailed.
1
More KOMPROMAT from the Putin/Trump Alliance that continues in their mission to steal the world assets by employing SPECTRE like weapons against the rest of the world. It is not islamist that we should fear , it is the KLEPTOCRACY THAT IS THE GOP/FSB THAT ATTACKS US EVERY DAY.
4
The political crime cabal represented by the Clinton, Bush and Obama puppets of the NWO continues to crumble.
4
Yea
They must really be losing sleep
They must really be losing sleep
1
Someone is listening to me sing to my cat while I watch TV?
4
That's disturbing, not illegal.
2
if you guys at the CIA are recording this you are even better than the IRS
1
The time has come for us to drop our political cloaks and rail with all fury against the deep state. They are spending our money in secret, under the guise of "National Security", with full knowledge of the possible danger of these lethal tools ultimately being out in the world (why else declassify them to protect themselves in the event of possible revelation?) and making the peaceful citizens of the world unsafe and unsecured as a result. C'mon people now!
5
The "Deep State" -- haven't I been seeing that term a lot lately? And I mean VERY lately -- before about a week ago, I don't think I ever encountered the expression. Oh, I get it. It's the newest, coolest sound-bite. "The One Percent" is S-O-O-O-O five minutes ago. These phrases have to be short and snappy because they have to fit on a placard. Also, because the bottom 80 to 85 percent aren't very bright.
2
The phrase has been around for years. It was brought back into the spotlight by Glen Grunwald over a month ago describing the initial intelligence leaks anonymously quoted by the NYT. It has nothting to do with 1% or any other protest groups. It is being used by journalists and politicians to describe the latent power of various agencies in the Executive branch rebelling against their new leader.
1
I use WhatsApp daily... and I hope the CIA and FBI can see all of my messages if the circumstances warrant... and preferably if they get a warrant.
1
Wikileaks, Putin, and Trump, the new Axis of Evil. Period.
Trumpians, you have been trumped.
DD
Manhattan
Trumpians, you have been trumped.
DD
Manhattan
8
It's all good, DD. The CIA is more clever than social media (good), we're friendly with Russia (good), and Trump has D.C. awake again (good).
And btw, we see that you're Dennis D. from NYC at the top of every (outraged) comment, so no need for the signature. Or the childish name-calling.
And btw, we see that you're Dennis D. from NYC at the top of every (outraged) comment, so no need for the signature. Or the childish name-calling.
1
I do not condone and would not do what Wikileaks does.
Having said that, I am rather taken aback by the "shoot the messenger" tack so many commentators here have taken.
In the long run, isn't it important to know that we are all being spied on all the time by the "Five Eyes," the UK/USA Agreement of the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia?
And if the CIA is leaking classified information like a sieve, how is that happening? Is it intentional leaking, would be whistleblowers, or Russian penetration of our nation's most secret assets and protocols and highest levels of government?
Everyone has secrets they would do almost anything to keep from being revealed. It might be criminal or disreputable conduct. It might be a medical condition. It might be confidential business or financial information. It might be a password, or a foreign account, or a family secret. It might be sexual fetish or a private fear. It might be a traumatic incident in someone's past.
Information is power, and if an intelligence elite knows everything about everyone all the time, and there is no public awareness and no effective checks and balances, then we are in effect ruled by an un-elected and unaccountable intelligence elite and our Republic is just a dog-and-pony show.
We must develop an international, enforceable disarmament regime and code of conduct for surveillance organizations as we have done with weapons of mass destruction. That must be the first priority.
Having said that, I am rather taken aback by the "shoot the messenger" tack so many commentators here have taken.
In the long run, isn't it important to know that we are all being spied on all the time by the "Five Eyes," the UK/USA Agreement of the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia?
And if the CIA is leaking classified information like a sieve, how is that happening? Is it intentional leaking, would be whistleblowers, or Russian penetration of our nation's most secret assets and protocols and highest levels of government?
Everyone has secrets they would do almost anything to keep from being revealed. It might be criminal or disreputable conduct. It might be a medical condition. It might be confidential business or financial information. It might be a password, or a foreign account, or a family secret. It might be sexual fetish or a private fear. It might be a traumatic incident in someone's past.
Information is power, and if an intelligence elite knows everything about everyone all the time, and there is no public awareness and no effective checks and balances, then we are in effect ruled by an un-elected and unaccountable intelligence elite and our Republic is just a dog-and-pony show.
We must develop an international, enforceable disarmament regime and code of conduct for surveillance organizations as we have done with weapons of mass destruction. That must be the first priority.
6
I don't think it's quite "shoot the messenger". The disclosure of the CIA's hacking methods and activities is a threat to our national security. I doubt they might be using their capabilities to spy on your or me. Somehow I think they have bigger fish to fry and if their ability to do that is compromised by this leaking, it doesn't make you more safe, it makes you less safe.
If you read up on how and why Wikileaks released this - The Vault7 collection has been out of the box for quite some time now and in the possession of dozens of contractors and agents. It hasn't been secret for a while, but the CIA seemed to be doing very little to contain it or do damage control. We haven't been safe since it was compromised - only after Wikileaks exposes it do we force the CIA to do some abatement and damage control.
1
Not sure if there's any significance, but Weeping Angel is a reference to Dr. Who.
Good article but still many questions To asked here:
- Wikileaks is known to have used Russian hackers in the last release, the one that swayed our election and advantaged the candidate that Putin preferred. Who did this hacking? Are there Russian fingerprints here too? It certainly adds to the Russian pattern of wanting to sow chaos and destabilize democratic society.
- taken together, what is the pattern of the material that Wikileaks has released? Is it anything and everything? Or does it advantage one set of players, political goals, or financial interests? Have they hacked any of the oil companies? Trump's tax returns? Russian intelligence agencies?
Might be worthwhile to consider if and how this latest hack fits into the larger context.
- Wikileaks is known to have used Russian hackers in the last release, the one that swayed our election and advantaged the candidate that Putin preferred. Who did this hacking? Are there Russian fingerprints here too? It certainly adds to the Russian pattern of wanting to sow chaos and destabilize democratic society.
- taken together, what is the pattern of the material that Wikileaks has released? Is it anything and everything? Or does it advantage one set of players, political goals, or financial interests? Have they hacked any of the oil companies? Trump's tax returns? Russian intelligence agencies?
Might be worthwhile to consider if and how this latest hack fits into the larger context.
5
Explore the tools falling under the category "Umbrage". These are tools the CIA steals from Russians, Chinese and other operators with THEIR fingerprints on them. So if you say it is "known" that the last set of leaks came from the Russians..we definitely don't "know" that anymore. What we do know is that the CIA has the ability to make it look like almost anyone committed a cyberattack when in fact it was the CIA or someone else.
Go out to the Wikileaks site and affiliates and see for yourself - the shine the light on everyone they can, without regard for who. If it is a secret, and is being kept from the public, and is something whistleblowers feel should be revealed, Wikileaks will review it and verify as much as possible, and then either release it or not, depending on how much they can veryify.
Go out to the Wikileaks site and affiliates and see for yourself - the shine the light on everyone they can, without regard for who. If it is a secret, and is being kept from the public, and is something whistleblowers feel should be revealed, Wikileaks will review it and verify as much as possible, and then either release it or not, depending on how much they can veryify.
The CIA may have those tools, but they're responsible for espionage outside the country, and can't legally do it within the US. Presumably the organizations responsible for counter-espionage and counter-terrorism, like the FBI, have access to the same tools. The real question is whether they are using them within the limits of the law. The leaked documents throw no light on that.
2
Russia is not a threat, the government spy complex is a real threat no matter how many of you hate Trump.
5
Any country meddling with this country's elections is a definite threat.
As for the CIA, it is their job to do surveillance or would you prefer them not gathering intelligence on potential threats?
Trump isn't going to do it. He still has trouble fixing his tie.
As for the CIA, it is their job to do surveillance or would you prefer them not gathering intelligence on potential threats?
Trump isn't going to do it. He still has trouble fixing his tie.
2
This is just another distraction. Every time DT gets into trouble, there's a distraction. Don't forget Sessions lied. DT is just a broken record.
7
Shouldn't be a problem for the Trump Administration. As we know, DT stated "I LOVE Wikileaks," several times during the campaign. Perhaps he will reaffirm his love again soon? That is, if anyone gets to ask him a question.
7
Assange continues to do the bidding of his Russian masters, now trying to deflect attention from Trump's growing list of disasters.
9
So trump is again in a pickle, more and more of his lies are being revealed, and Wikileaks just happens to release a huge jumble of material.
No no no, no collusion at all.
Wake up trumpeters! This is a foreign attack on our sovereignty
No no no, no collusion at all.
Wake up trumpeters! This is a foreign attack on our sovereignty
12
I think our whole world has become much safer after computers and Internet have been available for everybody. Bad guys, if they are lazy, also depend on this tech which can be easily monitored by another tech. This is a good news to me.
3
This is where the people who "check in" at every location and put every minute detail of their lives on third-party social media sites start to whine about their privacy.
6
Those are the Presidents friends over at Wikileaks...gosh I wonder if we should be concerned?
9
Have Ed Snowden and Glenn Greenwald spoken?
1
I have been an IT professional for 40 years. Here is my 2 cents.
If you use any one of these secret tools, you will be revealing yourself.
There is no free stuff.
If you use any one of these secret tools, you will be revealing yourself.
There is no free stuff.
3
They can monitor me all they want, I have nothing to hide.
3
That is 100% not the point
2
Me neither. All I post is pictures of my garden. More than happy share secret to growing amazing dahlias.
1
We all want both transparency AND security-- but it has to be on OUR terms-- not the terms of some weird guy who clearly enjoys criticizing the USA. I wish Trump would cut some sort of deal with Ecuador to get them to turn Assange over. Both he AND Snowden need to be in jail. The United States CANNOT let spies and traitors become celebrities. Of course, you don't want to kill them and make them martyrs-- instead, you want to lock them away in a place with no internet and where the only source of entertainment is Walker Texas Ranger reruns. That will definitely be torture for them-- and you never know, it could also rehabilitate them. Regardless, they need to be brought to justice so the world understands there are consequences for leaking classified information.
2
How do we know it wasn't the Russians who bugged Trump Tower?
5
I would respect Wikileaks more if they released stuff from both sides of the aisle.
7
Wikileaks is as vile as Assange.
The thrive on villainy and rumor.
The thrive on villainy and rumor.
3
Just how convenient. If the concurrent release of the Muslim ban 2.0 and the half-baked ACA replacement draft weren't proof enough, this definitely goes to show that there is a concerted effort by both the Trump administration and Russia to shift the conversation from the Jeff Sessions revelations of last week.
We must stay focused in this topic and press Congress to appoint an independent investigator.
We must stay focused in this topic and press Congress to appoint an independent investigator.
8
The current administration is now responsible for this stuff. It's hardly a distraction - it's another serious piece of business that all that newly-appointed talent needs to address.
Congress should form another Church Committee and expose the mockingbirds in the media who lie to the public. There is ample proof that this has happened and is continuing to happen. A lot of people in the media deserve to hang for this.
Why the flood of comments about how 'everyone knew' our TV's and appliances were hacked and people were listening in to our private conversations? I think they're designed to make us read the comments and think we must be strange for believing otherwise. Nonsense. While I could reasonably guess that calls overseas or even my phone calls are being listened to, there is no way that I thought all my appliances could be use as a surrogate for warrant-less searches by the government OR corporate interests. ARE there laws against corporations listening to us? What are these laws? Who is watching them to make sure they aren't breaking the laws? Has anyone from Google, Yahoo, Samsung, Apple, etc. ever been arrested? Who is looking out for us and not looking AT us?
4
I'm sure the intelligence agencies have better things to do than check on how you program your coffee machine.
All these so called "revelations" do is stoke paranoia in the easily impressionable.
All these so called "revelations" do is stoke paranoia in the easily impressionable.
Yes, there are laws against corporations taking data from us without our consent. In general, it's the consumers themselves or organizations working on behalf of consumers that discover wrongdoings. Consumers can submit complaints to organizations like the FCC and there are non-profits like the Electronic Frontier Foundation that apply pressure to lawmakers to ensure that the laws protect our privacy and freedom on the internet.
If this is something that is important to you, I urge you to follow the EFF. Congress is constantly trying to introduce new laws that would be detrimental to internet privacy and freedom.
If this is something that is important to you, I urge you to follow the EFF. Congress is constantly trying to introduce new laws that would be detrimental to internet privacy and freedom.
The timing of this "revelation" is impeccable.
10
Nah. The timing of revealing the Sessions meetings with the Russian Ambassador after President Trump killed it in his speech to the Congress was much better timed.
3
What about the Wikileaks of Russian documents, Chinese documents, Trump tax returns, lawsuit and business documents, Sessions, Manford, Bannon, Kushner, Ross, Giuliani, FBI NY Field Office, Flynn, Brietbart, Robert and Rebekah Mercer documents, tapes and transcripts, tax returns, funding activities, fund activities, and in the case of Trump sex tapes? What about Koch Brothers and Koch Industries documents, tax returns, political contributions and activities, lawsuits, waste disposal activity documents, tapes and transcripts?
What about WikiLeaks and Russian connections, and where does Trump fit in all of this?
What about WikiLeaks and Russian connections, and where does Trump fit in all of this?
7
WikiLeaks doesn't hack. hackers or people with information provide WikiLeaks with the information.
do you have any Chinese or Russian information you would like to share with the rest of us?
do you have any Chinese or Russian information you would like to share with the rest of us?
How convenient for DT to have the Intelligence agencies that are scrutinizing him be slammed by WikiLeaks... folks, we've seen this before, just a few months ago, remember how great that turned out?
If anyone still has doubts about possible collusion between DT and Russia, for gods sakes, get your head examined before you doom the rest of us!
If anyone still has doubts about possible collusion between DT and Russia, for gods sakes, get your head examined before you doom the rest of us!
14
Could you provide one scintilla of proof to show that Trump and Russia are connected? Go ahead, the floor is yours...
Look at the bright side: this may finally put a cork in Twitler's phone. I won't call it a smart one.
1
I for one don't see this line of action as a problem if it exists within a society that is ruled by the law. The US needs to be a leader in Intelligence gathering so that it can protect its citizens life and interests. Period! You can't use 1973 methods in today's world. Just be careful about where these leaks come from. These are the same people who gave you President T...
2
Maybe I missed it but where is the administration's outrage about WikiLeaks and the damage this leak could potentially do to U.S. He's happy to rage about leaks from his administration that cast him in a bad light but when real classified information is leaked he's moot.
7
The novel, "A Dark Pefection" by Mark James, predicted almost 3 yrs ago that the NSA would use TVs to spy on the citizenry.
Two yrs before Snowden, it predicted that the NSA was sifting all domestic emails.
Hmmm....
Two yrs before Snowden, it predicted that the NSA was sifting all domestic emails.
Hmmm....
2
Under the auspices of the Obama administration, huge tech companies joined with the Intelligence agencies to spy on the public. Please do not mince words. Spying on regular Americans. This is not what anyone voted for 4 or 8 years ago. Anyone who thinks we were on stable ground in the past, is wholly mistaken. Trump won the Presidency because the people have been undermined and the establishment got too powerful. We have been complacent.
5
People in this country are crazy. If you don't care about the government spying on you and potentially anyone that can hack into any of this, then post your Facebook password as a reply to this comment.
6
Spy on what exactly? Do you think you are that important that they would want to bother watching you? Be serious.
The question "why would they bother" is why this should bother you. Why do they need to be able to get into your home in such an invasive way? For marketing purposes? Just to find terrorists?
There are a number of issues, even if the government isn't doing this in a nefarious way. If they can do it, then anyone can definitely do the same type of thing.
Why would anyone want to listen to what I'm doing in my living room? To catch me for saying **** the government later in the future? It, to me, is very invasive even though I'm not doing anything wrong. That why they SHOULDN'T be spying on us.
There are a number of issues, even if the government isn't doing this in a nefarious way. If they can do it, then anyone can definitely do the same type of thing.
Why would anyone want to listen to what I'm doing in my living room? To catch me for saying **** the government later in the future? It, to me, is very invasive even though I'm not doing anything wrong. That why they SHOULDN'T be spying on us.
1
Wikileaks founder Assange is perhaps afraid of Ecuador turning him out of their London embassy after their next election. So this material and its timing may be meant to curry favor with Trump (maybe we wont extradite him from Sweden once England sends him there?) and Russia (a refuge for Assange?).
The leaks distract from THE major story of the present day: the Trump-Russian alliance in possibly hacking our democracy. The leaks are meant to question the intent/credibility of the CIA who appear to have proof of Trump's Russian ties. These leaks as well as Trump's accusation of Obama directed Trump Tower wiretapping may very well be COORDINATED in terms of timing, with the intent to distract and deflect from the major story on the Trump-Putin axis.
The leaks distract from THE major story of the present day: the Trump-Russian alliance in possibly hacking our democracy. The leaks are meant to question the intent/credibility of the CIA who appear to have proof of Trump's Russian ties. These leaks as well as Trump's accusation of Obama directed Trump Tower wiretapping may very well be COORDINATED in terms of timing, with the intent to distract and deflect from the major story on the Trump-Putin axis.
3
"Umbrage ... allows the C.I.A. to mask the origin of some of its cyberattacks and confuse forensic investigators." So it is possible the CIA hacked into Hillary's servers and leaked damaging information to influence the outcome of the US election and made it look like it was hacked by the Russians. The spy agencies are debasing democracy not protecting it.
2
The generation that fought in WWII and lived through the Cold War are passing from power. I ask myself what would Kennedy, Nixon or even Reagan think when they hear the mixed messages Trump is sending to the world about Russia. I know that there is a great deal of fear in the Eastern European countries. We need to reaffirm our commitment to NATO and find ways to strengthen our ties with Asian allies, as well.
Bigger bombs won't be the answer. Cyber war requires invetment in people and education. And we need to continue to use economic sanctions to put pressure on our enemies. And allow free trade to strengthen relationships with our allies.
Bigger bombs won't be the answer. Cyber war requires invetment in people and education. And we need to continue to use economic sanctions to put pressure on our enemies. And allow free trade to strengthen relationships with our allies.
3
assange might rethink this. he is hurting everyone in the world.
1
Assange doesn't care who he hurts.
2
TO: Julian Assange, WikiLeaks
Please hack and release documents on the following STAT:
- Potential terrorists plots
- Donald Trump's tax returns (1992-2015 tax years)
- Donald Trump's connections to Russia before & after 2016 election
- Donald Trump's psychological profile
- All contacts between DJT and Vladimer Putin
- Trump's banking relationships with Russian banks
- Trump's other Twitter, on-line, newspaper aliases
Please hack and release documents on the following STAT:
- Potential terrorists plots
- Donald Trump's tax returns (1992-2015 tax years)
- Donald Trump's connections to Russia before & after 2016 election
- Donald Trump's psychological profile
- All contacts between DJT and Vladimer Putin
- Trump's banking relationships with Russian banks
- Trump's other Twitter, on-line, newspaper aliases
12
I was born here, but this place makes my skin crawl. So much for the land of the free. The most intrusive government ever devised and not worth defending. And the largest prison system ever. We are 4.4 % of the Worlds population with 22 % of the Worlds prisoners. You can have it. And we criticize and invade others. Yuk!
7
You're free to move, Phil. I hear good things about Moscow...
Don't want to be a potential target for electronic surveillance? Get off the grid. No more electronic communication. Live in a cabin in the middle of Montana like the Unabomber.
Because, realistically, that's all you can do. Take solace in the fact that you aren't nearly as interesting as you think you are and no one wants to spy on you in particular. But remember that there are plenty of people who are interested in your stealing your money and identity and take proper precautions.
Because, realistically, that's all you can do. Take solace in the fact that you aren't nearly as interesting as you think you are and no one wants to spy on you in particular. But remember that there are plenty of people who are interested in your stealing your money and identity and take proper precautions.
6
If I was a gambling man I'd be shorting my Julian Assange stock.
2
I don't even like the idea of a nosey neighbor, and much less the idea of the government poking around my business. But it is not news that we do not control our privacy nearly to the extent we think we do. It is common knowledge that for decades the United States government has had the ability to monitor any communication in this country. As technology has advanced so has the monitoring capability. Surprised? Outraged? Really??
I don't understand the paranoia expressed by so many. We willingly open up our lives to Apple, Google, Facebook, e-commerce and a million apps (none of which will run on our "smart" devices without allowing access to all our data) with hardly more than a shrug. What are they doing with our privacy? Nobody seems to care about that. And rest assured they know as much about us as any federal agency. Are they operating in our national interest? Is that their primary concern? Their concern is making the maximum profit from our "privacy", and they do it very well; sold to the highest bidder; all with our blessing.
The intelligence community could save a boatload of money if they just bought our information from Google. They would get much more than they want or need. National security is the only issue. Do I like the idea that the CIA could poke around my business? Not at all. But in the interest of keeping my family, friends and neighbors safe; I'm ok with it.
I don't understand the paranoia expressed by so many. We willingly open up our lives to Apple, Google, Facebook, e-commerce and a million apps (none of which will run on our "smart" devices without allowing access to all our data) with hardly more than a shrug. What are they doing with our privacy? Nobody seems to care about that. And rest assured they know as much about us as any federal agency. Are they operating in our national interest? Is that their primary concern? Their concern is making the maximum profit from our "privacy", and they do it very well; sold to the highest bidder; all with our blessing.
The intelligence community could save a boatload of money if they just bought our information from Google. They would get much more than they want or need. National security is the only issue. Do I like the idea that the CIA could poke around my business? Not at all. But in the interest of keeping my family, friends and neighbors safe; I'm ok with it.
6
Good--the CIA's secrets are a disgrace, there should be sunlight laws to release documents before say 1980. There is no reason to keep the American people in the dark. JFK, MLK, RFK--I would expect some real bombshells if all the documents pertaining to them were released.
5
Deja Vu.
Here we go, blaming Wikileaks again. This time for leaking CIA secrets.
Why is our national intellectual property leaked so often, and so easily ?
Russia, China, Europe, Israel, and Australia do not have than problem.
Why ?
Is it because we have more such advanced technology material, and other countries don't ?
Likely.
Is it because we have a weaker defense than other countries to protect our national security ?
Unlikely.
My guess is -- as Trump cleans up the intelligence agencies, the hold overs are placing stink bombs (leaking information) as they are thrown out of their offices.
Here we go, blaming Wikileaks again. This time for leaking CIA secrets.
Why is our national intellectual property leaked so often, and so easily ?
Russia, China, Europe, Israel, and Australia do not have than problem.
Why ?
Is it because we have more such advanced technology material, and other countries don't ?
Likely.
Is it because we have a weaker defense than other countries to protect our national security ?
Unlikely.
My guess is -- as Trump cleans up the intelligence agencies, the hold overs are placing stink bombs (leaking information) as they are thrown out of their offices.
1
... what you said above makes some sense, but, sorry, but he wont "clean-up" anything, he will massively dirty-up more and more things, and cause more dysfunctional, confusing, and dangerous issues, within our country, and worldwide do to our nations leadership position in many areas, but likely his behavior and behavior of surrounding goons will cause the implosion - I think in fairly short order, I originally questioned whether the timetable would be 1 or 3 or 6 months, when he got in, many of us observers or people in clinical/behavioral sciences could see it early on ...
2
Or, in his collusion with Russians, he's begging Putin for a distraction.
Trump is claiming without any evidence that he was personally tapped under orders from Obama - so out of the blue Wikileaks makes another data dump, coincidence?
Unlikely, this is just an attempt to distract and take the heat off Trump.
Trump is claiming without any evidence that he was personally tapped under orders from Obama - so out of the blue Wikileaks makes another data dump, coincidence?
Unlikely, this is just an attempt to distract and take the heat off Trump.
2
You really would assume that the CIA is better protected than this? Wouldn't you.
I would have thought that we were better than anyone at this. Oh well.
I would have thought that we were better than anyone at this. Oh well.
1
Wikileaks dumping this right when Trump is asked for evidence of being spied on by Obama pretty much certifies them as a branch of the KGB.
3
Is the publishing of this articles meant to support Trump's suspicions? What's the point of this now?
4
Thank you- your words my thoughts -
I would urge the Trump administration to waste no time in securing safe passage for Julian Assange to the United States whereby he is immediately sworn-in as the Secretary of Cybersecurity. To paraphrase an old saying, "If you can't fight 'em, hire 'em."
3
How is this news? Of course the CIA has the tools to hack cellphones. So do plenty of common criminals. You probably don't need to worry about the CIA, but you do need to worry about identity theft.
8
Sorry, but this story has no "there" there. Several years ago we heard about baby monitors being used as listening devices. Wireless thermostats can also be used for listening. Phones, TVs, vehicles with digital interfaces, likewise. The issue isn't that the technology exists to hack these devices; the issue is who is the target of the hacking? Is it Trump? Is it us? I doubt we'll ever know. What triggers an intelligence agency to use it? If the public doesn't want to be spied upon, throw out your digital devices and go old school and off-line.
3
Why is the United states the only country to have state secrets exposed? Are we the worst country in the world? One would think so since we are the only country ever exposed or Maybe we're just to stupid!
5
Still waiting for any one of the alarmists posting here about the assault on our privacy to show how U.S. intelligence agencies are harming American citizens. It's a mark of how open a society we have that it is considered appalling that Trump blocked certain news agencies from a press conference. In Turkey, Russia, or any other number of totalitarian nations, journalists critical of the government have to worry about getting disappeared. In those countries, it is easy to picture the governments using surveillance for evil purposes. But mining data of millions of citizens to efficiently root out potential evildoers? No problem for me. What is important is to keep the hands of criminals, e.g., Russian hackers, off the same surveillance tools.
1
While this report of WikiLeaks leaking these reported intelligence programs is news in its own right, don't you wonder why it was leaked now? Don't you wonder that someone might want to throw more fuel on the fire of doubt and uncertainty amidst all of the political turmoil already on the table - perhaps simply to distract us from some real truth elsewhere? Don't you wonder whether some person(s) were involved in now leaking this alleged information, besides WikiLeaks? We should be wondering. In my view, the timing of the leak and its content is just too curious to be let go.
1
There is one error: "Foreign networks" cannot be intercepted. It is the US tcp/ip network that are exposed, and since WhatsApp and similar use "approved" encryption known also to NSA and the CIA, it can be intercepted. But change encryption to not US approved and you run into trouble. The interception happens in routers - where the intercepted packets are sent to be analysed. Since the US has the slowest network of all countries, "foreign" countries are safe from this nonsense, the CIA does not own a parallel set of network to transmit the data on - their packets can also be intercepted and well not routed on. Julian Assange: Technology was not your strong side, but the leaks will raise a pertinent discussion about privacy. I ask the NYT to revise and remove the word "Foreign" in the article. Foreign networks are based on another transmission technology that is banned in the US, and cannot be intercepted except in routers.
What exactly did we think the CIA does? They are spies. This is what they do. Should this be a surprise? Seriously? Have you ever seen a James Bond movie? How about mission impossible? Do we really need to be shocked that they operate clandestine cyber spying? It's hard to believe outrage over it.
4
Maybe somebody should investigate the GOP ties to Wikileaks?
6
On the up side, this is the kind of news that would probably make any President want to pull their hair out. At least we won't to look at that anymore.
I suspect Trump's bold tweet about an Obama wire "tapp" was motivated in part by his advance knowledge of this Wikileak release about the CIA hacking phones - similar to how Trump's post-sanctions tweets seemed to reflect that his people were privately reassuring the Russians before the election.
4
Extra! Extra! read all about it! Wikileaks is the stooge of the Russian government!
And now that we have yesterday's news out of the way, does anyone else find it fascinating that only information that can be used against 45's "adversaries" is leaked? So why would anyone believe a stool pigeon?
If Wikileaks is this good at what it does, how much money does it demand to do some real good, like 45's taxes. Assange is what I always took him for - a minor grade martinet who's in this, like 45, for the publicity and the cash. Both of them should be incarcerated.
And now that we have yesterday's news out of the way, does anyone else find it fascinating that only information that can be used against 45's "adversaries" is leaked? So why would anyone believe a stool pigeon?
If Wikileaks is this good at what it does, how much money does it demand to do some real good, like 45's taxes. Assange is what I always took him for - a minor grade martinet who's in this, like 45, for the publicity and the cash. Both of them should be incarcerated.
5
As I look at the accompanying photograph of the Langley facility, I cannot help but think how many doors must be swinging shut, and how many computer systems must be in reboot mode. Heck, I'd bet on it.
It's a sad state of affairs that the people within this facility and the others around town like it have created for the American citizens they are supposed to protect.
Sad to say, but the sham is evident. It's full of the opaque efforts of the Obama administration to tamp down any fissures, plug any leak in the dyke, redact any evidence of political chicanery, and above all, protect those whose mission is ostensibly to protect the rest of us.
What did we get instead? Our self-made disaster, handed to us right back on a silver platter - compliments of a fellow ensconced in "Argentina in London" - one who may, in history, have done us a greater favor than the entire lintel of breast-beating, intel politicos who have gleefully salivated in their corridors while attempting to gang up on our new president.
What a poor statement about America. We have a long road ahead of us yet. Perhaps the only person who fully understands this best is, ironically to some, Donald J Trump. I'm with Mr. Donald through it all.
It's a sad state of affairs that the people within this facility and the others around town like it have created for the American citizens they are supposed to protect.
Sad to say, but the sham is evident. It's full of the opaque efforts of the Obama administration to tamp down any fissures, plug any leak in the dyke, redact any evidence of political chicanery, and above all, protect those whose mission is ostensibly to protect the rest of us.
What did we get instead? Our self-made disaster, handed to us right back on a silver platter - compliments of a fellow ensconced in "Argentina in London" - one who may, in history, have done us a greater favor than the entire lintel of breast-beating, intel politicos who have gleefully salivated in their corridors while attempting to gang up on our new president.
What a poor statement about America. We have a long road ahead of us yet. Perhaps the only person who fully understands this best is, ironically to some, Donald J Trump. I'm with Mr. Donald through it all.
2
This is very timely. The finger is pointing to Russia. Assange is in bed with Putin. Wikileaks reveals the CIA game. This is just Russia trying to divert attention from the real issue - Trump, Tillerson, and Russia.
7
I have no problem govt monitoring my cell phone, my credit card transactions, and my internet-connected devices. I still retain faith in America's strong legal order. What needs to be done is that, other than protecting America from terrorists (both nations and non-state actors), any information gathered must not be used for political blackmail, hunting down illegal immigrants etc.
"Protecting America" is where such monitoring should begin to focus and end. And that doesn't have to be a "1984" or even lead to another McCarthyism.
Why can't this be worked out?!
"Protecting America" is where such monitoring should begin to focus and end. And that doesn't have to be a "1984" or even lead to another McCarthyism.
Why can't this be worked out?!
1
The collective technosphere shrugs, and welcomes those who had not yet made it into the 21st century.
3
If the CIA has such great capabilities, why haven't they been used to silence WikiLeaks?
3
This is all nonsense perpetrated by the CIA themselves.
The real issue here is why this smoke screen. What are they really up to ?
The real issue here is why this smoke screen. What are they really up to ?
Interesting WikiLeaks came out with CIA hacking just when Trump is making accusation that Obama tapped his phones and Comey's dismissal of his request for an investigation, Events appear to be well synchronized. Trump and Assange appear to be working together. Trump and his extremists are bent on destroying the intelligence community to unleash his tyranny.
4
Ecuador MUST evict Julian Assange from their Embassy. Ecuador is harboring a fugitive from justice. Maybe it's time to put Political and Financial pressure on Ecuador to evict this Russian Spy named Julian Assange!!
3
If you recall, the C.I.A. and N.S.A. are outgrowths of the military that spies on it's own people. More importantly you should recall is that both parties in Congress legislates it and funds it.
The real domestic enemy is those spying on us using the excuse of looking for domestic enemies. It's all about empire building and sustenance.
We DO NOT have a "Government OF the People", we have a "Government OF the GOVERNMENT People".
The real domestic enemy is those spying on us using the excuse of looking for domestic enemies. It's all about empire building and sustenance.
We DO NOT have a "Government OF the People", we have a "Government OF the GOVERNMENT People".
3
Not sure who's more bored...me, or the CIA operative listening in on me.
3
Here's how I feel about this: I don't care. And I especially don't care coming from Wikileaks! We have a mentally unstable President wreaking havoc and chaos with no discernable policy about anything and we're supposed to be outraged over this CIA crap? Can America please get back to the regularly scheduled program; taking care of those of us who need health care, job reform, and tax breaks? Impeach this nut already! Let the CIA implode for all that's worth.
7
Michael Schmidt a reporter for the New York Times broke the story less than four weeks ago go look it up for yourself that the truck tower was tapped he's the same reporter that broke the story about the Hillary Clinton's private email server. Then James Clapper came on yesterday and said that there was no tap even though the New York Times claimed there was. It can't be both ways something stinks anyway you look at it it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. James Clapper lied he said there was no tape at Trump Tower we know that's not true. If you believe the New York Times and Michael Schmidt then you have to believe that was leaked to him just like all the other stuff was leaked about General Flynn. Have no idea where Michael Smith got the information from but obviously it's true
3
Wait. Isn't this evidence that we were doing what we were supposed to with the Patriot Act? Spy on everyone, and if you have nothing to hide, Patriot, you don't care? I thought that was what Conservative America wanted, way back in 2001. They certainly didn't want Obama to reverse the Act because then he'd be letting the Muslims win! Or spying on an ego maniac like Trump? Or... Or...
13
This seems to be yet another diversion, just like the Clinton emails were (I suppose Pence's use of a private email acct don't raise eyebrows since the shoe is on the other foot now). The Trump administration is descending into chaos, and the circle on Russia gets tighter by the week, if not by the day. Hopefully, the media has learned a lesson from the election debacle and keeps the focus on the Russia investigation, Trump's taxes, and the plethora of conflict-of-interest problems plaguing this entire group of dishonest and destructive bunch of billionaires. WikiLeaks has become a mouthpiece for Putin. I'm not happy to have my phone surveilled, in the remote possibility that the CIA would be interested in my banal conversations, but it bothers me a lot more that Putin, as well as his unhinged puppet, have the finger on the nuclear button.
Notice how Julian Assange and WikiLeaks ONLY attack the US and our allies??
Not only MUST security at the CIA be tighten, but this 'leaker' MUST be brought to justice!!!
Julian Assange and WikiLeaks are obviously on Vladimir Putin's payroll!
Not only MUST security at the CIA be tighten, but this 'leaker' MUST be brought to justice!!!
Julian Assange and WikiLeaks are obviously on Vladimir Putin's payroll!
16
Wikileaks dropped another "bombshell" to take the heat off Trump.
1
If anyone is really surprised that the CIA is surveillancing any and everything it can since 9/11, your naïveté borders on the infinite. Mr. Assange seems to be exclusively focused on revealing and neutralizing our tools for keeping track of threats to our country. Wikileaks never discloses Russian, Chinese, Iranian, or North Korean cyber sources and methods. Perhaps it's time to consider dealing with Mr Assange the old fashioned way: terminate with extreme prejudice.
8
This makes the CIA appear to be incompetent.
1
Regarding Russia interfering in our elections - if Russia REALLY WANTED to interfere they would just released Clinton's emails. Much simpler and with a guaranteed result.
2
If the CIA can do it, so can any ADD 13-year old.
1
The CIA has lots of intrusive tools to spy on our enemies. They can hack computers and peer down from satellites and tap phones. I don't see how hacking What's App is qualitatively different.
Nor do I support this Wikileaks disclosure. It harms our national security.
If there was evidence the CIA was spying on innocent Americans in violation of the Constitution--that would be appropriate to leak.
Nor do I support this Wikileaks disclosure. It harms our national security.
If there was evidence the CIA was spying on innocent Americans in violation of the Constitution--that would be appropriate to leak.
7
So, DJT, do you love wikileaks now?
4
I think that everything the CIA needs to know about any of us, can be purchased from Facebook, Google and whoever keeps the GPS record on my smart phone; the Federales don't need to hack into our stuff. I've met Big Brother and her name is Siri.
I'm going to hold onto my old "dumb" flat screen TV as long as I can and damned if I'm going to let one of those Amazon Echo things ever get into my house.
I'm going to hold onto my old "dumb" flat screen TV as long as I can and damned if I'm going to let one of those Amazon Echo things ever get into my house.
4
So, what's the concern, Watson can already do all of that and already told Elexa about it. Who says the CIA doesn't plant this stuff. Truth is hard to find I think.
Wikileaks harms America's ability to protect Americans!
1
Anyone with sufficient expertise can intrude on the most secure system. That isn't really the question here. The question is whether our security services are after only the bad guys in particular or everyone in general. If the later, then there is no shred of privacy left in our society and we either accept that profoundly unsettling truth or call upon our politicians to define in law strict limits on what information can be gathered and from who. Liberty without privacy is a tree torn out by it's roots.
2
I guess the 4th amendment is dead: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
5
Anyone who believes in "privacy" is naive. If you are on the internet, such as writing here, your computer is open to spying by just about anyone--both with evil intent or benign. If you are connected, phone, car, or laptop, you are a target for someone looking over your shoulder, it is as simple as that. We must now come to accept these very unhappy circumstances (as in the 5 steps of grief).
5
Are these the same tools that WikiLeaks uses?
1
I'd really like to see what Donald Trump has to tweet about this!!
So Donald, 'What are you going to do about Julian Assange and WikiLeaks'??
So Donald, 'What are you going to do about Julian Assange and WikiLeaks'??
3
It would appear that for Wikileaks, the Russian, Saudi, Iranian, Hezbollah, et al secret programs are off-limits, are not of interest, are safe from the light of publication.
4
Those readers who think it is just fine that the CIA can listen in on all your conversations through your TV, or that the government can spy on all your emails and phone conversations, will have no problem when the government demands a retinal scan, blood sample, urine sample, and a body cavity search. Because, after all, you're doing nothing the government doesn't want you to do, like protest or dissent. And if you do get together with a few friends to protest, you can be herded into "free speech zones" where no one can hear you, and the government can take pictures of you.
karma2013 says the Russians working with Wikileaks to erode public confidence in our government. Sorry, I haven't had confidence in our government since it lied us into the Vietnam War, and nothing I've seen since has restored that confidence. Our responsibility as citizens is to control the government, not have it control and monitor every aspect of our lives.
karma2013 says the Russians working with Wikileaks to erode public confidence in our government. Sorry, I haven't had confidence in our government since it lied us into the Vietnam War, and nothing I've seen since has restored that confidence. Our responsibility as citizens is to control the government, not have it control and monitor every aspect of our lives.
9
Dear Martha
Please take a trip to Russia and try to live there as a regular citizen for a few months. Try to express some dissent towards Puting and see what consequences this attracts. I am not trying to be sarcastic or disparaging. The reality is that for many American-born citizens, Viet-Nam is one of the worst examples of government failing its citizens. But by comparison, what has been and is going on now in Russia is orders of magnitude higher on the 'worse' scale, and, probably and understandably so, not imaginable for people fortunate enough to be born in the free world.
Please take a trip to Russia and try to live there as a regular citizen for a few months. Try to express some dissent towards Puting and see what consequences this attracts. I am not trying to be sarcastic or disparaging. The reality is that for many American-born citizens, Viet-Nam is one of the worst examples of government failing its citizens. But by comparison, what has been and is going on now in Russia is orders of magnitude higher on the 'worse' scale, and, probably and understandably so, not imaginable for people fortunate enough to be born in the free world.
Trump, Putin, al Qaeda, and ISIL thank you, Julian. You're no whistleblower, though. You're just another angry young man getting your revenge for having been rejected by women, or whatever your petty personal whine is.
Too many of you out there now, including our president.
Too many of you out there now, including our president.
20
(Re: 'Rejected by women', Trump's motivations have been guessed at, usually that he is reacting to what we've seen in the newspaper the day before. What if he has been 'rejected by woman' during the weekend? And takes it out on the world, because he can?)
Surprise surprise Wikileaks has released this info about the CIA obviously given by the Russians. Since assange is buddies with Putin this leak and it's timing to help out trump and his crooked Russian problem is no coincidence. So let me get this straight Wikileaks can get this huge mother load of top secret info about the CIA but can't get a simple tax return from the orange crook name trump?
28
It doesn't much concern me that the CIA has these tools. Indeed if I had been asked, I would have assumed that the CIA did have them. And that the FBI has them too. The real issue is whether the tools have been, are being, or will be used responsibly and legally.
8
ANYthing the government dreams up, including stuxnet or mustard gas or whatever, WILL get into the hands of irresponsible users.
2
He needs to dump everything he has quickly. He will be evicted from the embassy real soon. His prison cell awaits him.
5
I'm more horrified by some of the responses here. From Vault7:
"As of October 2014 the CIA was also looking at infecting the vehicle control systems used by modern cars and trucks. The purpose of such control is not specified, but it would permit the CIA to engage in nearly undetectable assassinations."
The CIA is trying to hack into people's cars, but some users here are more angry at the Russians. Unreal. I remember when the left loved WikiLeaks. What the heck happened?
"As of October 2014 the CIA was also looking at infecting the vehicle control systems used by modern cars and trucks. The purpose of such control is not specified, but it would permit the CIA to engage in nearly undetectable assassinations."
The CIA is trying to hack into people's cars, but some users here are more angry at the Russians. Unreal. I remember when the left loved WikiLeaks. What the heck happened?
13
Wikileaks became an agent of Russian intelligence. It manipulated the election. That's what happened
4
That's right Tom. Pay no attention to the russians or the source of the leaks. Instead, worry about the CIA hacking your car and trying to kill you. That's the "real" news.
2
The story about cars being hackable has been a news item for some time without any reference to the CIA. The likelihood is greater that the car manufacturers themselves are collecting data on the drivers of it vehicles, and maybe even sharing that trip to the racetrack on your sick day with your boss.
Everyone was laughing about Windows Phone's downfall resulting in a <1% market share. I'm still running my Windows Phone with Windows 10 and I'm pretty sure most surveillance solutions are not targeting that platform, simply because the market is too small.
There is a place, given the disparity in the respect different world governments have for individual human differences, for the United States to have the means of hacking into encrypted communication. It can be dangerous and should come with safeguards, but it is necessary. It is probably time that the U.S. looked at means of disabling WikiLeaks and similar partisan hackers. Churchill's comment, poorly quoted, that democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others, still stands. There is a need to protect democracy and that entails the ability to protect it.
Why is this news? Who from the right wing is leaking this dribble and calling it news. If the CIA can't hack into computers, what good are they? This cannot be considered a top news story unless it is being leaked by the White House and then the story needs to be Why is the White House so set on diverting the attention of the American consumer? Come on NY Times stop giving these diversions. How did Wikileaks get this information? Tell me that, and I will be informed.
Trump loved Wikileaks on the campaign trail and I bet he loves it even more now. Such convenient timing. This is treason.
8
Interesting ... Trump says Obama taped his phone without facts to substantiate the claim and Wiki Leaks releases documents on how the CIA can tap someone's phone. There needs to be an independent council to investigate the ties between Russia, Wiki Leaks and the Trump administration because this is all to coincidental. The corruption is so deep you can't see the whites of their eyes.
Sowhat!? Nothing more than a job description of CIA known for years. I should be concerned with this trite disguised as news? Oh wait, now I get it, trumps ivory tower was bugged. WOW!
5
"For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." Luke 8:17, NIV
4
Interesting.
So, is the purpose of this release to help Trump draw attention away from his Russian connections?
The timing seems to be a bit coincidental, and by the way, how come Wikileaks seems to have hacked everyone except anyone related to Trump? Why haven't they hacked Trump's Tax records for example, or various closed door testimony on Russia?
Or are we to believe that Trump's team has their act together and is impenetrable?
Is this Wikileaks releasing a treasure trove of information or Russia releasing a treasure trove.
How do we know what Wikileaks is releasing is true or not? Trump seems to benefit a lot from all of this.
The timing seems to be a bit coincidental, and by the way, how come Wikileaks seems to have hacked everyone except anyone related to Trump? Why haven't they hacked Trump's Tax records for example, or various closed door testimony on Russia?
Or are we to believe that Trump's team has their act together and is impenetrable?
Is this Wikileaks releasing a treasure trove of information or Russia releasing a treasure trove.
How do we know what Wikileaks is releasing is true or not? Trump seems to benefit a lot from all of this.
13
How does this help President Trump? Anything that damages the ability of our Intel communitly to collect the info they need to protect our country, damages the President's ability to be informed, and hurts America
2
Who says that Trump's info has not been hacked?? Perhaps, whoever has done it (and I assume someone has) they will release that information when it suits their particular interests. Is it American security services, Russians, Chinese, North Koreans??? We may find out soon enough.
The Government is doing a remarkable job of destroying American commerce and tourism.
7
WikiLeaks and the person who provided them the documents have, wittingly or not, damaged U.S. national security, while at the same time they have handed Donald Trump an enormous advantage. He will use this to launch even more vigorous attacks against leakers within the government, thus continuing to deflect attention from more pressing issues. Unfortunately, that threatens U.S. national security, too!
9
That is possible of course. However, also keep in mind that now that these tools are out there, there are some very bright people finding the "anti-tool". I am sure that someone somewhere is working on that right now.
Does it concern anyone that those posting often use pseudonyms?
As opposed to...Vladamir?