Saturday, August 20, 2016

Information from the NSA has been leaked as confirmed by secret documents provided by Edward Snowden. Wait.....

Courtesy of The Intercept: 

On Monday, a hacking group calling itself the “ShadowBrokers” announced an auction for what it claimed were “cyber weapons” made by the NSA. Based on never-before-published documents provided by the whistleblower Edward Snowden, The Intercept can confirm that the arsenal contains authentic NSA software, part of a powerful constellation of tools used to covertly infect computers worldwide. 

The provenance of the code has been a matter of heated debate this week among cybersecurity experts, and while it remains unclear how the software leaked, one thing is now beyond speculation: The malware is covered with the NSA’s virtual fingerprints and clearly originates from the agency. 

The evidence that ties the ShadowBrokers dump to the NSA comes in an agency manual for implanting malware, classified top secret, provided by Snowden, and not previously available to the public. The draft manual instructs NSA operators to track their use of one malware program using a specific 16-character string, “ace02468bdf13579.” That exact same string appears throughout the ShadowBrokers leak in code associated with the same program, SECONDDATE.

Now many security analysts are now suggesting that this group must have hacked into the NSA in order to get their hands on these "cyber weapons" however Snowden himself offers another explanation: 

Snowden, who worked for NSA contractors Dell and Booz Allen Hamilton, has offered some context and a relatively mundane possible explanation for the leak: that the NSA headquarters was not hacked, but rather one of the computers the agency uses to plan and execute attacks was compromised. In a series of tweets, he pointed out that the NSA often lurks on systems that are supposed to be controlled by others, and it’s possible someone at the agency took control of a server and failed to clean up after themselves. A regime, hacker group, or intelligence agency could have seized the files and the opportunity to embarrass the agency.

Okay, maybe. But here's a third option.

First has anybody else noticed that the number of hacks in America determined to have originated in Russia have gone up exponentially since Snowden landed there three years ago?

Remember that Snowden landed in Russia with tons of materials that he stole from the NSA.

And then there was this from July of 2013:

Edward Snowden has very sensitive ‘‘blueprints’’ detailing how the National Security Agency operates that would allow someone who read them to evade or even duplicate NSA surveillance, a journalist close to the intelligence leaker said Sunday. 

Glenn Greenwald, a columnist with The Guardian newspaper who closely communicates with Snowden and first reported on his intelligence leaks, told The Associated Press that the former NSA systems analyst has ‘‘literally thousands of documents’’ that constitute ‘‘basically the instruction manual for how the NSA is built.’’ ‘ 

‘In order to take documents with him that proved that what he was saying was true he had to take ones that included very sensitive, detailed blueprints of how the NSA does what they do,’’ Greenwald said in Brazil, adding that the interview was taking place about four hours after his last interaction with Snowden.

So to prove that what he had was accurate, Snowden took the blueprints for how the NSA works into Russia with him.

At the time Snowden assured his critics that the information was safe in his hands: 

The dramatic plot of the Edward Snowden NSA whistleblowing saga has just taken an interesting twist: in a letter to U.S. Senator Gordon Humphreys, Snowden declares himself impervious to torture. 

Furthermore, he claims his encryption cannot be hacked. 

From his letter, posted in the Guardian: 

[N]o intelligence service — not even our own — has the capacity to compromise the secrets I continue to protect. While it has not been reported in the media, one of my specializations was to teach our people at DIA how to keep such information from being compromised even in the highest threat counter-intelligence environments (i.e. China). 

You may rest easy knowing I cannot be coerced into revealing that information, even under torture. 

How comforting.

So we are left to wonder if this information was accessed by a group of Russian hackers who broke into NSA computers from the outside, was revealed through some sloppy work by a current NSA operative, or that Edward Snowden simply carried it into Russia with him and then handed it over to Vladimir Putin for a roof over his head and protection from American prosecution?

Gee, I wonder which one sounds the most likely?

37 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:41 PM

    I'm too ignorant of all things technical to have any kind of opinion, but...all I know is that this guy has one of the most sniveling, slapable faces I've seen. Right up there with the junior Trump bros. Seeing his photo always gives me the creeps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:13 AM

      computers are not that complicated! think of them as instead of paperwork you have electronic! you can do paperwork right? no difference you just have to be patient! ;)

      Delete
  2. Anonymous5:10 PM

    Well said, and I agree about the slapable face.

    I have the same reaction to Snowden as I do for that smug fuck who raised the drug price a thousand-fold.

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  3. "I cannot be coerced even under torture". Are you fucking kidding me. I could hit this guy in the balls and pinch his ear really hard and he would start talking. I apologize. I am so pissed off about this little shit. Wanna be hero. I'm sure he and Manafort have a special relationship. Putin is using ES they same way he is using Trump - like his little bitch. Our national security has been severely compromised. Funny how HRC's server was not hacked but they want her shot for treason. Trump has unleashed all kinds of ugly on this nation.

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  4. Anonymous5:27 PM

    Yes, Shrekeli (sp?) has the most supremely slappable face, but I really think he has a mental illness of some sort, certainly a personality disorder.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous5:31 PM

    Which scenario is most likely? I guess that depends on how tight your tin foil hat is.

    ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. A honey trap?

    “Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien,

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hedgewytch5:39 PM

    No one is immune to torture. No one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:33 PM

      True. Maybe putting his statue up with no gonads. Just pictures of his mother.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:04 PM

      I sincerely doubt they tortured Snowden. They wouldn't have to. He rolled for room and board.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous6:15 PM

    All this Cold War-paranoid commies-behind-every-tree talk brings me back to the '60s, makes me feel like a kid again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:06 PM

      Americans always need a bogey man.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:17 PM

      The outcome could be different this time around....pay attention!!

      Delete
  9. Anonymous6:52 PM

    Snowden is a traitor to this country. He is not to be trusted. He has endangered our national security.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:04 PM

      How? By exposing the fact that your government was for years illegally recording and storing all your communications without your knowledge?

      Nope, try again.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:22 PM

      Agree with you, 6:52.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:35 PM

      Russia accepted snowden with open arms. Espionage is huge big business. Lots of vodka and drugs for usa traitors. Plenty room for pimple face boys to be boys. And yes, attach to the radical party of stupid trump followers. Duh? the good old ugly American republican party of Russia.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous1:12 AM

      8:04.

      It's not what he exposed. It's HOW he did it. Instead of going through the proper and legal channels his carelessness, haste and attention-seeking leaked state secrets to the Chinese and the Russians.

      Fuck Snowden. He can rot in Russia. He should be tried for espionage if he dares to step one toe in the U.S. or any country from which we can extradite him.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous3:13 AM

      Anyone can inadvertently do evil by doing what they think of as good. Anyone.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous5:04 AM

      No, Anon. at 3:13 am, a person doesn't "do evil" just accidentally. Snowden knew exactly what he was doing, he knew it was wrong and illegal. He did it for fame and money.
      Beaglemom

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:08 AM

      Sarah must be cyber stalking amoung 'other' stalkings...gee Sarah go blueberry picking!

      Delete
  10. Anonymous7:36 PM

    Read something on white nationalist being happy that Trump made them mainstream, and not afraid to be their old racist selves. What a thing to celebrate. Hitler would be so proud of his little copycats. Trump is teaching them to be comfortable in their evil skins. Quite the thing. And Putin all the while was probably orchestrating the thing all the while snickering at what a god he's turned out to be. Sickening. So now, the United States in all it's lofty ideals is up for grabs by any sellout. Notice the Republican party is quiet. No sound from Ryan, McConnell, because, silently they approve this message. It is now acceptable in the Trump world to be racist.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:49 PM

      Yes, it is alarming to witness treason and traitors in the USA. The party of evil. The party of stupid. Did it again. But! have no doubt! America and her Citizens will clean up and remove problem.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous7:47 PM

    It's no secret that in the field of computer nasties the US can hold its own with the Russians and the Chinese.

    In the area of good things, not so much.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous8:02 PM

    This all came up some time ago. The NSA does indeed plant spying codes into systems on an opportunistic basis, you don't have to be doing anything suspect. Sometimes the spying app gets overlooked or forgotten about after a while- remember, the NSA carries out its surveillance on a m-a-s-s-i-v-e scale.

    Remember the depiction of the NSA in 'The Good Wife'? That's pretty much them. Edward Snowden has nothing- repeat, NOTHING- to do with their activities, you can stop slamming him now.

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  13. Anonymous9:25 PM

    If Snowden is all that and a stack of pancakes, why did he flee the country?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous1:22 AM

      Because the government tried to impress the Republicans and made a lot of shitty threats. Then they sent black ops to kidnap him but couldn't coordinate them competently and so they missed him.

      Because what Snowden did wasn't all that remarkable and doesn't warrant being locked up for life.

      Because everything he revealed is in 'The Shadow Factory', written by nat sec specialist James Bamford and published in

      2 0 0 8

      'k?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:44 AM

      Snowden is a traitor. He knowingly broke the law & now is a Russian asset.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous5:21 PM

      Like Daniel Ellsberg, huh, 11:44?

      Delete
  14. Anonymous9:47 PM

    You mean the TRAITOR Edward Snowden.

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  15. Anonymous11:09 PM

    Yes I notice Russian singles in my spam. Where is our boy snowden vacationing in Russia these days? What a guy. Hacking for the Russians and trump. How very American.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous1:31 AM

    Gryphen, don't ever doubt that the NSA is sloppy. And arrogant. They're the apex predator and they know it, they literally have the world at their fingertips and zero accountability. Their carelessness is how their little computer bugs get lost in the system. My only question would be 'how many systems have been infected and then forgotten about?' and I think the answer would horrify me.

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  17. Anonymous1:58 AM

    You're idiocy is showing. Truly.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous7:56 AM

    @ 1:58 - "You're idiocy is showing. Truly."

    Pot meet kettle.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Tilphousia8:12 AM

    Edward Snowden is an arrogant, ignorant traitor who deserves the fate of all traitors. He will spend his miserable life among people who gladly took his traitor's information but will view him as a pariah, shuned, never trusted in any way and despised. Check out British turncoats and defectors. They all died miserable and alone.

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  20. The possibility that no one is considering is that this could be deliberate misinformation leaked to discredit Russia. Remember the USA was found to have tapped the phones of national leaders who they consider allies such as German chancellor Angela Merkel. Also the Student programme was unleashed on Iranian computers to compromise their nuclear programme. Then control was lost and it went viral all over the internet.

    ReplyDelete

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