Learn From Their Mistake
Last Friday the hacking group Anonymous released a tape of a phone call between the FBI, the UK’s Scotland Yard, and the representatives of several European law enforcement agencies. The law enforcers were discussing investigations of hackers.
Anonymous claimed that it had hacked into FBI computers, and was able to read the FBI communications continuously.
This is obviously a huge embarrassment to the FBI, but it was clear at the outset this was typical Anonymous bravado. After looking at the email that Anonymous posted on pastebin, it was pretty clear what happened. The email was sent to 43 people-and hence involved 44 people including the sender. It listed a call in number and access code. Given the large number of people on the call, and the sloppy way in which some people handle email, the most likely explanation is that Anonymous got a hold of this one email, dialed into the call, and taped it.
Yesterday the FBI stated that this was indeed what happened:
The FBI has admitted that Anonymous eavesdropped on the conference call, but told the New York Times that the phone call wasn’t hacked. Instead, Anonymous somehow obtained an email containing the conference call login information, which was sent to 44 people at the FBI and overseas agencies on January 13. According to the Times, a foreign police official forwarded the email to a private account, where it was intercepted by Anonymous.
Sloppy handling of email. Inexcusable, but all too common.
Hackers are a menace, but the most menacing ones aren’t the exhibitionists. Indeed, obsession with publicity is likely to be their downfall. The dangerous ones are those who do tremendous damage and don’t brag about it.
The main lesson here is that people doing stupid things are the biggest security risk. Since everyone who does anything online is a potential victim and target, this is a lesson for everyone. Take some time to evaluate your online activity. Use complex passwords. Don’t use the same password for more than one account. Use an app to store passwords, and to generate strong passwords.
Apparently some cops–even those involved in investigating hackers, remarkably–haven’t figured this out. Learn from their mistake.
A lot of this comes from the cult of secrecy: of course many things need to be kept secret, but the tendency has been to classify almost anything as some form of secret. This covers one’s A**, and means that one doesn’t have to do unpleasant things such as think, use judgement, etc. It is also very useful in hiding incompetence, borderline criminal behavior, etc.
The unintended consequence of this is that if almost everything is secret, nothing gets “special handling”. Secrets are mundane, and the usual tendency is to let things slip. It is very difficult to maintain constant security standards. One solution is to limit the number of “secrets” and insure that those things that need to be secret follow truly special protocols.
Comment by sotos — February 6, 2012 @ 8:38 am
Excellent point. He who defends everything, defends nothing. Of course Russia perfected this folly. For example, the MiG-29 was still classified in the USSR, when photos of it were published in the West. So “Aviation Week” subscriptions in Soviet engineering schools had all pictures of it scissored out.
Comment by So? — February 6, 2012 @ 4:24 pm
I wonder if the anti-Anonymous (anti-democratic) goons will condemn them for leaking Assad’s emails.
Or apologize for their claims that they are only out to “humiliate” America.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/bashar-assad-emails-leaked-tips-for-abc-interview-revealed-1.411445
Probably not. Consistency and honor isn’t their strong suit.
Comment by Sublime Oblivion — February 7, 2012 @ 4:01 am
Thank you little sublim Berkley boy . The Putin -mafia have problems controlling the agents om micro level . I really love the Putin-mafia boot-licker’s on your personal blog . Really nice to read about the Russian chauvinists anti-Guardian ranting
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/07/hacked-emails-nashi-putin-bloggers
Pro-Kremlin organisation reportedly pays hundreds of thousands of pounds to network of internet users to help political cause
The mass of data appears to show evidence of the sinister tactics used by Nashi, and includes:
• Price lists for pro-Putin bloggers and commenters which indicate that some are paid as much as 600,000 roubles (£12,694) for leaving hundreds of comments on negative stories about Putin.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/07/hacked-emails-nashi-putin-bloggers
Comment by Anders — February 8, 2012 @ 1:22 pm
“Probably not. Consistency and honor isn’t their strong suit.” Hell, that’s like waiting for another post from SWP on four months with no MF Global indictments of Don Corzine and cronies, or Fast and Furious, or a post about the looming thousands of drones the MIC wants flying all over American skies.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/02/boehner-calls-contraception-rule-an-attack-on-religious-freedom-pledges-congressional-action/
Or about how Catholics’ religious freedom is being violated with HHS’ ‘subsidize birth control/abortions or else’ policy. In other words, if it ain’t about the Evil Empire but rather evil rising at home, he doesn’t give a crap.
For the slightest concern about the rising Washington-directed police state, you’ll have to turn to Drudge, or ZeroHedge, or even that known radical newspaper, the Washington Times:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/7/coming-to-a-sky-near-you/
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/believe-return-gold-standard-you-are-now-officially-extremist-according-fbi
Of course when I said that Anders and co would probably support Big Sis in locking up gold bugs as potential pro-Russian subversives, I meant it as a sarcastic joke. But apparently Uncle Sam is capable of surprising even this cynic with his audacity when it comes to taking big dumps on the Constitution in public.
Comment by Mr. X — February 8, 2012 @ 5:15 pm
Accusations of racism and ties to neo-Nazi interests have plagued Paul since the 1990s and have re-surfaced during this campaign. So far Paul has issued standard denials, claiming not to have been aware of the ties between his camp and the racist right and denied authorship of a series of racist newsletters, despite confirmation from his closest staff that Paul signed off on every detail.
So what’s Paul’s explanation now?
http://www.care2.com/causes/anonymous-hacks-neo-nazis-finds-ron-paul.html
KGB Putins Wikleaks ideologist Israel Shamir tell us
Historically, liberal views do not get wide support in Russia. Therefore a right-centered party would become a very reasonable choice for the country, Kudrin said –Israel Shamir writing on Counterpunch – His thesis are the Russians will have to decide whom do they hate more: Putin or Communists .
It now turns out that Ermash / Shamir also wrote the foreword to an English edition of the Protocols of Zion displayed. Edition, published in 2008, is published by the Institute for Historical Review, which since 1978 has been a leading exponent of holocaust revisionism and denial. There is reason to believe that this will make it even harder for Ermash / Shamir to keep what little he may have left of credibility as a writer.
https://streetwiseprofessor.com/?p=6013#comment-87640
Comment by Anders — February 8, 2012 @ 6:51 pm
Anders, why does everything you link to smack of false flag (especially your ‘Russia terrorist bombings were all an inside job’ propaganda), and all the ‘dirt’ you and Andy find on Paul is run by websites that have existed for just a few months? That pose as fake/liberals/conservatives but always back the Status Quo? Who the heck is ‘Care2’ anyway?
This is about as credible as the stuff certain interests in Russia post on Kompromat.ru.
Tell me, why does the Establishment have to resort to making up such utter bullshit to discredit Paul if he’s just another also-ran, second or third place finishing candidate? What are they so afraid of?
The ‘confirmation from his staff that Paul signed off on racist newsletters’ thus far has been a totally anonymously sourced, single Washington Post story, which the ‘Right wing’ sites like Pajamas Media that normally discount the Post all immediately embraced.
The only person that did step forward by name to accuse Paul of the slightest bigotry was picked up by PJM, and even he says Paul is not anti-Semitic, he just thinks the creation of the State of Israel was a mistake. Which reminds me of those Israeli jokes that G-d told Abraham to move to ‘Canada’ instead of ‘Canaan’. And naturally, this chap didn’t step forward in 08′ when TNR and former Demintern operative James Kirchuk first brought up the dreaded alleged racist newsletters, which once again were no more ‘racist’ than Frontpagemagazine or lots of other respectable right wing sites.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/anonymous-hacks-neo-nazis-finds-ron-paul.html#ixzz1lqVFHk69
Sounds like Uncle Sam or private security contractor posing as ‘Anonymous’ to me.
Comment by Mr. X — February 8, 2012 @ 8:04 pm
Next thing you’ll tell me Rand Paul worships Aqua Buddha, that he’s back by the KKK (oops, those guys posing as racist rednecks were actually paid by his opponent’s campaign in 2008) and that he’s secretly some sort of Nazi plant too.
Seriously, you can hurl all kinds of false flag BS at Paul himself, but neither you nor the Establishment wannabe if not actual paid minion Andy can discredit his movement. And that scares your bosses. Because Anders if you really are a Norwegian living in Norway, why are you posting all this junk at 3 a.m. Oslo time?
Comment by Mr. X — February 8, 2012 @ 8:06 pm
Lastly, why would a racist help dozens if not hundreds of indigent poor blacks and Hispanics in southeast Texas deliver their babies free of charge?
Why would a racist denounce Planned Parenthood and other organizations that conspicuously place abortion clinics in minority neighborhoods? It doesn’t make any sense. It only ‘makes sense’ as another faked, BS Establishment talking point for useful pro-Status Quo idiots like Andy and Anders, faithful to the banksters’ Welfare-Warfare State to the bitter end.
Comment by Mr. X — February 8, 2012 @ 8:08 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKfuS6gfxPY
Putting the shoe on the other foot — imagine if there was a Chinese or Russian military base in Texas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOq3Eli0XA4&feature=related
THE MAN even gives Anders and Andy talking points, complete with a creepy robotic voice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rv0Z5SNrF4
The Compassion of Dr. Ron Paul 1972
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEgE8Wx_R8A&feature=relmfu
West Point veteran backs Ron Paul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK1weRcVMAY
Soldier in uniform backs Paul
Comment by Mr. X — February 8, 2012 @ 8:12 pm
Funnily enough, the Nashi info was leaked by Anonymous.
I wonder if:
(1) SWP, Anders, et al. will have the consistency to condemn them for illegally prying into private communications.
(2) Argue that the ends – exposing criminality on the part of Nashi and by-way-of-Nashi, the Kremlin – justify the means, whereas the same does not extend to exposing US dirty linen and that of their allies because they are Good and Russia is Evil.
(3) Quietly ignore it until the next opportunity for smearing Anonymous / Wikileaks / Assange comes up.
Anyone taking bets?
Comment by Sublime Oblivion — February 8, 2012 @ 9:43 pm
Hmmm, I know you are a retard X, but the US does not have military bases in anything remotely resembling Texas in relation to the Russians.
“Imagine if the Russians or the Chinese had a military base in Panama/Philippines” might be similar.
Once again you are too stupid for words.
BTW, there were a lot of Jews who supported Hitler to begin with, just because isolated individuals support Paul does not mean he has the support of the majority of servicemen and women by any means.
The USMC and US Army men and women here in Georgia don’t think much of him.
Comment by Andrew — February 9, 2012 @ 6:02 am
Ron Paul Exposed As White Supremacist By Anonymous
February 1, 2012
And it looks like the jig is officially up. Hackivist group Anonymous has announced that not only have they decimated the websites of avowed White Supremacist group American Third Position (A3P) during Operation Blitzkrieg but, in the process, they claim to have accidentally uncovered close ties between the racist group and Ron Paul. Not just the Ron Paul campaign, but Ron Paul himself.
From the announcement page:
Fellow anons: we are pleased to bring you the dismantling of a major US-based
white supremacist network known as the “American Third Position”(A3P). These
racist losers have chapters across the US, operate several white power websites,
forums and online stores, and are even running a candidate in the 2012
elections. Although they try hard to maintain a professional public image to
camouflage their vile racism, we’re now airing all their dirty laundry all over
the internet. Contained in this major dump are several thousand private forum
messages, personal emails, internal organization notes, names, phone numbers,
home addresses and other information on all of their members and supporters.
It’s time for these cowardly suit and tie white supremacists to sleep with one
eye open. Scared much?
In addition to finding the usual racist rants and interactions with other white
power groups, we also found a disturbingly high amount of members who are also involved in campaigning for Ron Paul. According to these messages, Ron Paul has regularly met with many A3P members, even engaging in conference calls with their board of directors. Ron Paul’s racist politics and affiliations are already well known, being viciously anti-immigrant, anti-abortion and against gay marriage — not to mention having authored the racist “Ron Paul Papers” and receiving financial support from other white power groups (pictured with Don Black from stormfront.org). Hard to believe Ron Paul draws some support from the left and the occupation movements, especially now that it is confirmed Ron Paul hangs out with straight up racist hate groups.
We put extra effort in ruining the life of A3P webmaster Jamie Kelso. On top of
being on the board of directors of A3P, former $cientologist, and high ranking
Ron Paul organizer, he also is the account owner of german nazi forums and store nsl-forum.org, rhs-versand.com. We went ahead and wiped those websites off the internet as well, dumping private messages and order information. Aside from us releasing his information such as his social security number, address, resume and private discussions, we also heard some folks went on a joyride with Kelso’s credit card and made some lulzy purchases, including sex toy purchases and making donations to the Anti Defamation League and many others. Oops.
We call upon not only other antifascists but all those opposed to white
supremacy to utilize this information and make hell for these white nationalist
scumbags. It is essential if we wish to live in a world free from oppression to
expose and confront racists at their jobs, their schools, at their homes and in
the streets.
No Dialogue! No sympathy! Destroy White Supremacy!
Anonymous is not known for hoaxes about this sort of thing and there is a large amount of information on the page to sort through. If this is confirmed then that would the end of the Ron Paul phenomena among the Left. It will impossible for any self-respecting liberal to overlook such a connection no matter how much they want marijuana legalized. Nothing justifies willingly associating with White Supremacists.
More on this story as it develops.
http://triablogue.blogspot.com/2012/01/do-paulbots-hate-our-soldiers.html
Comment by Andrew — February 9, 2012 @ 6:11 am
Sorry, correct link is
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/02/01/ron-paul-exposed-as-white-supremacist-by-anonymous/
Comment by Andrew — February 9, 2012 @ 6:11 am
Nashi – The modern Hitler-jugend
I wonder if:
(1) SWP, Anders, et al. will have the consistency to condemn them for illegally prying into private communications .
No – I think different democratic Youth- organizations need transparent financial support from a wide specter of sponsors .In a normal country with a free press and an open transparent state , it is normal to know who the sponsors are and how they work .
Putin-Jugend are the gangster regimes mercenaries and they deserve outside investigation . Putins illegal mafia -regime to day control the TV and most media so it is just fine for me . —
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/07/hacked-emails-nashi-putin-bloggers
Pro-Kremlin organisation reportedly pays hundreds of thousands of pounds to network of internet users to help political cause
The mass of data appears to show evidence of the sinister tactics used by Nashi, and includes:
• Price lists for pro-Putin bloggers and commenters which indicate that some are paid as much as 600,000 roubles (£12,694) for leaving hundreds of comments on negative stories about Putin.
Comment by Anders — February 9, 2012 @ 2:51 pm
“The USMC and US Army men and women here in Georgia don’t think much of him.” They have no business being in Georgia in the first place. And yes, the equivalent would be like having Russian troops in Guatemala or Mexico.
Comment by Mr. X — February 9, 2012 @ 3:17 pm
And Andy the stuff you’re linking to is as fake as a three dollar bill. It has Cointelpro written all over it. As in fake blogs, fake ‘news’ sites, all set up for a few months spitting out normal stuff until they can be used as a sort of U.S. version of Kompromat.ru and spew horseshit about Paul or any other pervey vrag of the State all over the web. And get picked up by useful Corporatist pro-endless war military base empire tools like you.
Comment by Mr. X — February 9, 2012 @ 3:36 pm
BTW Andy, here’s some useful history for you, from the mainstream website Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO
Keep that in mind Andy. I hope you aren’t one of their modern day minions.
Sen. Church was a Republican from Idaho, I believe.
And once again, think I’m exagerrating? Read this about the FBI targeting folks who believe in a gold standard as potential terrorists:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/believe-return-gold-standard-you-are-now-officially-extremist-according-fbi
Comment by Mr. X — February 9, 2012 @ 3:43 pm
Let that sink in. The U.S. government is announcing that folks who advocate for the gold standard or don’t like the IRS…all organizations created post-1913…are potential terrorists or subversives. One can only imagine the equivalent response if Russian documents saying as much about Russian citizens were leaked to Moscow Times or somesuch how you and Anders would react. But once again, your and SWP’s faith in the good intentions of Washington, or at least of the national security state, seems bottomless.
Comment by Mr. X — February 9, 2012 @ 3:45 pm
And BTW, if gold bugs are such dolts and economic doom, boom and gloomers, how have they succeeded in taking over the Chinese government and its holdings?
The fiat money order that sustains troops in far outposts of Empire like little Georgia is falling apart Andy. And that’s bad news for you if you’re still on Uncle Sam or Uncle United Kingdom’s teet. Better buy some farm land in Georgia, pronto.
Comment by Mr. X — February 9, 2012 @ 3:55 pm
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/very-different-take-iran-barters-food-story
Comment by Mr. X — February 9, 2012 @ 3:56 pm
The Putin mafia have bloody history killing Whistle-blowers
Whistle-blower links Putin to organized crime groups
http://rumafia.com/news.php?id=254
Robert Erindzher, former adviser on security and intelligence to the Prince Albert II of Monaco, publicized incriminating information about high profile Russians. He accused Russian businessmen, organized criminal group leaders, senior officials, and even Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of money laundering.
Nashi – The modern Hitler-jugend
I wonder if:
(1) SWP, Anders, et al. will have the consistency to condemn them for illegally prying into private communications .
No – I think different democratic Youth- organizations need transparent financial support from a wide specter of sponsors .In a normal country with a free press and an open transparent state , it is normal to know who the sponsors are and how they work .
Putin-Jugend are the gangster regimes mercenaries and they deserve outside investigation . Putins illegal mafia -regime to day control the TV and most media so it is just fine for me . –
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/07/hacked-emails-nashi-putin-bloggers
Pro-Kremlin organisation reportedly pays hundreds of thousands of pounds to network of internet users to help political cause
The mass of data appears to show evidence of the sinister tactics used by Nashi, and includes:
• Price lists for pro-Putin bloggers and commenter’s which indicate that some are paid as much as 600,000 roubles (£12,694) for leaving hundreds of comments on negative stories about Putin.
Comment by Anders — February 9, 2012 @ 5:07 pm
USMC and US Army troops have every business being in Georgia, they are here to train Georgian soldiers to ensure that Georgia is able to fulfill its commitments, to assist Georgia in protecting it’s independence, and at the invitation of the Georgian government.
Or do you think they have no right to be there because it might offend your love interest Putin?
Did you miss the bit where your own elected officials stated that the President must provide all required military assistance to Georgia.
BTW, the USMC boys would like to have a little talk with scum like you X, as they said “The Georgians did the hard yards for us in Iraq and Afghanistan, we should do it for them”
They find the sentiments of pro Russian paulbots like yourself abhorrent.
Comment by Andrew — February 9, 2012 @ 10:44 pm
No doubt they do.
Comment by Sublime Oblivion — February 10, 2012 @ 3:27 am
Sublime Berkley boy have learned some nice propaganda tools in California . Godwin’s law (also known as Godwin’s Rule of Nazi Analogies or Godwin’s Law of Nazi Analogies
Putins’s Russia amalgamated state with church. Soldiers of the vermacht wore belt buckles inscribed with the following: “Gott mit uns” (God is with us). His troops were often sprinkled with holy water by the priests. It was a real Christian country whose citizens were indoctrinated by both state and church to blindly follow all authority figures, political and ecclesiastical.
Putin Era as “Miracle of God”
On 8 February 2012 at a meeting of religious leaders in Moscow, Kirill described the Putin era as “a miracle of God” and criticised his opponents. He said that those who were demonstrating for democratic reform and the rule of law were emitting “ear piercing shrieks”
http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE81722Y20120208
Comment by Anders — February 10, 2012 @ 7:42 am
S/O. OK. I answered all your questions. From you: radio silence for 48+ hours. Cat got your tongue?