New Revelations Suggest Russian Hack Of US Agencies 'Very Possibly The Worst Ever'
Category: News & Politics
Via: krishna • 4 years ago • 112 commentsBy: Wayne Duggan , Benzinga Staff Writer
Full Disclosure: I own shares of several Cybersecurity stocks . . .
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The successful cyberattack on the U.S. Treasury, U.S. Commerce Department and a handful of major U.S. companies reported earlier this week may be far worse than initially feared.
A Russian government hacker group known as APT29 or Cozy Bear was reportedly responsible for the attack.
What Happened? On Monday, Microsoft Corporation MSFT 0.44% and cybersecurity company FireEye Inc FEYE 14.67% said hackers breached software provider SolarWinds Corp SWI 1.53% and then deployed malware to infect networks of other companies and government agencies.
"The hack compromised federal agencies and 'critical infrastructure' in a sophisticated attack that was hard to detect and will be difficult to undo, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said in an unusual warning message," The Associated Press reports..
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Now even more of Trump's Pigeons are coming home to roost!
(Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said headlines about the attack have gotten worse throughout the week . . . a Russian government hacker group known as APT29 or Cozy Bear was reportedly responsible for the attack).
Undetected since March.
smh
"Many people" were shocked at Trump's attempts to portray himself as a "Model Christian" after his his hush money payoffs to Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about his affairs with her. (His Evangelical followers didn't seem to mind...WTF???)
And also his other numerous extra-marital affairs....
Then there was the "Pussy Grabbing" comments.(no comment from the Religious Nutcases...perhaps they were jealous???).
And his efforts to increase the spread of CVS rather than trying to limit the spread.
Then...the number of his picks for important positions that included an unusually high number of accused . . . even indicted felons.!
Or his total fuck-up of the economy...
And then then his collusions with...even praise... our enemies.
So perhaps his castration of our defense capabilities should come as no surprise...????
Russia, Russia, Russia....cluck, cluck, cluck.
Lol--- your sense of humour is totally underwhelming!
"The hack compromised federal agencies and 'critical infrastructure' in a sophisticated attack that was hard to detect and will be difficult to undo, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said in an unusual warning message," The Associated Press reports..
. . . hard to detect and will be difficult to undo,
Tremendously funny, eh Greg?
Maybe our intelligence agencies need to spend more time in counter espionage (including cyber security) than spying on a political candidate; and then trying to get them removed from office. Their constant political diversions seem to have affected their work in everything else.
Time to remove the word "intelligence" from our intelligence agencies.
Trump had nothing to do with this fiasco. But Trruuummmmppppp!!!! Doesn't excuse the intelligence agencies ineptitude in this.
There are a lot of trump supporters that do support Russia. I mean...
They don't even hide it..
If there is so many, why can you only provide a tired old picture already circulated hundreds if not thousands of times?
Another slwazy Trumpist lie!!!
(Nice try-- but no Cigar!)
Meh!
How very, very profound of you.
LMMFAO!
It just describes two things that suck (if you're wearing the shirt).
But your (lack of) understanding of it is like saying that a t-shirt that reads "Better Dead Than Red" means the wearer is suicidal.
When an obvious t-shirt is over your head? That's pretty bad.
Good point! And till every single picture is posted here-- you are right in not belieiving him!
The truth must out-- whatever it takes!
The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth!
So if there are 1000 instances of this, to be believed, he must post every single one-- right here on NT!
(Or it didn't happen!!!)
One other picture would have sufficed.
I didn't ask for ALL of them, so why are you bringing THAT shit up?
Aren't you supposed to say "Russia, Russia, Russia"-- not "But Trruuummmmppppp!!!!"
(Or at least keep mindlessly repeating "Fake News, Fake News, Fake News"????)
TIME TO GET WITH THE PROGRAMME RONIN!
Mitch McConnel has blocked every cyber security bill to hit his desk for the last 8 years... And people wonder why he is known as, "Moscow Mitch".
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Well, perhaps the reason he and his MAGA ass-lickers keep braying is because they love what Putin is doing to his not so secret lover and puppet master?
No we usually just laugh at insane, unsupported theories flown by the left.
This is a good example!
Who's "we"?
Oh, that information is only available on a need to know basis.
Sadly, you don't qualify.
Sorry about that.
The rapid spread of the Covid-19 Virus is an "insane, unsupported theories flown by the left"?
The rapid spread of the Computer Virus is an "insane, unsupported theories flown by the left"?
The lousy economy is an ""insane, unsupported theories flown by the left"?"
The overwhelming record setting rejections of Trump's re-election bid are "insane, unsupported theories flown by the left"?"
Mitch McConnel has blocked every cyber security bill to hit his desk for the last 8 years... And people wonder why he is known as, "Moscow Mitch".
Correct!
Okay, shall we ALL pretend that no laws were passed regarding cyber security over the last 8 years, or will some of us remain in reality?
Congress approves first major cyber bill in years | TheHill
Where did you get this obviously false information, and why did you believe it?
Passing laws is one thing-- taking them serious, and enforcing them, is another!!!
And why are you asking all these false and misleading questions?
Your questions, by implication, are perpetrating FAKE NEWS!
(Back atcha-- I call your Fake News and raise you ten Fake Newses!!!)
No need to get mad at me for pointing out that your post was incorrect and false.
Just do better next time--fact check yourself before posting such unbelievable nonsense such as "Mitch McConnel has blocked every cyber security bill to hit his desk for the last 8 years."
Have pointed anything out? Have you cited any cyber security bills that McConnell has passed? If not, you haven't pointed out anything.
FFS, is clicking on a link just too hard or something?
Post 4.2.1
Do that and get back to me with yet more nonsense.
Wow, I guess this last Russian hack was big enough that even McConnell couldn't avoid it. You got anything else, or is this a one and done from you?
Please learn to follow the WHOLE conversation before chiming in.
The claim was made that McConnell blocked ALL cyber-security bills for 8 years.
I proved that was an outright lie.
Had you actually bothered to read the link I provided, you would have learned the year that the link says a bill was passed.
Guess when it was?
Not this year!
I'll let you read it for yourself or just stay uninformed on the matter....doesn't really matter to me.
BTFW, one was enough to prove the statement untrue.
You got any other questions?
I did, which is why I congratulated you for providing that link (maybe for the 1st time).
And you showed that he is not blocking 1 single cybersecurity bill, for the 1st time in the last 8 years.
You showed it was an exaggeration.
And if you'd bothered to read my comment, you would have learned that I had acknowledged it.
Since you're asking....how many total cyber security bills has McConnell and the Republicans blocked over the last 4 years?
Have you ever noticed that when people don't have the facts on their side, they attempt to derail the conversation by engaging in personal attacks?
Well, with some people that's all they have.
If you haven't seen other links I have provided while here, that's all on you, not me. Maybe you should read more, or more carefully.
If you had known the year before making your flippant comment, you wouldn't have stated this: "Have you cited any cyber security bills that McConnell has passed? If not, you haven't pointed out anything.", because that sounds like you don't think he passed any at all. You didn't state any OTHER bills, you clearly stated ANY.
I have no idea. I don't give a shit about them. I know it wasn't ALL as was claimed, that I disputed and proved was not ALL.
So you made an offer, when I accepted your offer, you refused to honor it. Was that offer a lie?
Other than that, you seem very sensitive that I expected you to provide links to backup your statements. Something you, yourself, require of other posters.
There is a word that describes people who expect things from others, that they are unwilling to expect of themselves. Do you remember what that word is? Just can't think of it off hand.
I am real sorry I don't have the patience to explain all the posts to you, and that I can't understand them for you.
Maybe someone else can fill you in.
Good luck!
Any word if Moscow Mitch & other MAGA morons have been recently been "braying" anything significant re: the Defense Bill?
BTW, here's what "Dear Leader" (Our "Brayer in Chief") has been Braying re: the Defense Bill:
Trump says he will veto $740 billion defense bill
Golly Gee-- I wonder why Putin is so happy today?
What a spectacularly untrue statement, easily disproven with simple internet search.
See post #4.2.1.
Proof that what you claim is a complete and utter falsehood.
Nope.
Its a simple fact: Trump has said he will veto the Defense Bill.
Why would he do such a thing?
Its obvious: he wants a U.S. weaker military!
And why would he want a weaker U.S. miltiary?
Obviously because his BFF and Puppetmaster Putin wants a weaker U.S. Military as he ("Ole Vlad) want to conquer more European countries by force).
Its really not all that difficult to understand...
Now you are just deflecting--again.
Sigh.
Pee tapes are a powerful motivator.
Is deflection ALL you have?
Where did you get this obviously false information, and why do you believe it?
Is anyone else here (besides me) old enough to remember when Republicans always took a very firm stand against our enemies?
.How times have changed!
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So true.
So Republicans made these asinine claims?
LMMFAO!
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Deflection is your MO
I responded to what the person who started the thread claimed.
that isn't deflecting.
Exactly!
I've noticed that.
And then I realized-- that what most Trump supporters do in discussions on Social media sites is to copy Trump's own tactics!
Interestingly, one of the most common tactics, is to make some claim (without any supporting facts)...and his supporters accept it all unquestioningly!
(Those tactics are extremely successful at Trump rallies, in fact any of his speechers to supporters...because they blindly accept anything he says just because he said!
No matter how absurd.
This works with his groupies. But the problem for Trump is . . .it doesn't work with normal people!
(As the incredible Biden-Harris recent election victory so powerfully demonstrated!
If what you say is true-- there should be no problem in you producing numerous links (from reliable sources).
But even one would do...
BAZINGA!
Yeah, I had already figured that would be the very best you could do.
At least I am not surprised.
He is rich. How do you think some ass hat from Kentucky manages to go to DC and become rich?
Putin's little bitch
Why can't Putin do revenge porn like everyone else whose lovers leave them?
Why can't Putin do revenge porn like everyone else whose lovers leave them?
I wonder...perhaps this extensive hack of our vital cyber Infrastructure is the modern day version of traditional Revenge Porn? Just as nasty, and more effective as traditional Revenge Porn.
And Putin is no Choir Boy. Remember, Trump's BFF Putin was previously an officer in the Notorious KGB!
He wasn't just an officer of the KGB, HE RAN THE ORGANIZATION!! I think he was Bush 1's shadow when he was the head of the CIA. But i'm not sure if that was the correct agency for Bush.
Good point.
I think the key point here, when dealing with Trump's bizarre refusal to ever say anything negative about Putin, is to ask the question-- why has Trump consistntly refused to ever say anything negative about Putin?
What does Putin have on him?
And perhaps even more damaging in light of Trump's consistent kow-towing to the former head of the KGB-- why , especially now-- in light what is now becoming more and more obvious is the worst cyber-attack on us in our history?
Underage prostitutes giving tRumpTurd golden showers? For starters?
Didn't you hear that tRumpTurd found Melania in a Slovenian brothel and he saved her from that brothel because she gave the best golden showers?
Those soft porn photos are actually escort ads.
I would love it if one person yakking about pee showers had any evidence
Yes, actually I did hear about that.
But there has also been speculation that there are other things as well-- seriously illegal financial dealings. Cheating on his taxes-- Big Time.
And after he leaves office he could face serious jail time for some of those things.
"What does Putin have on him?"
Underage prostitutes giving tRumpTurd golden showers? For starters? Didn't you hear that tRumpTurd found Melania in a Slovenian brothel and he saved her from that brothel because she gave the best golden showers? Those soft porn photos are actually escort ads.
Yes, actually I did hear about that. But there has also been speculation that there are other things as well-- seriously illegal financial dealings. Cheating on his taxes-- Big Time. And after he leaves office he could face serious jail time for some of those things.
Some people feel that once he leaves office, he won't care abouthis "public image"-- or even his"legacy"> (After all, he didn't seem too upset when his philandering with Stromy Daniels appeared-- not was heupset when that "Grab 'Em by the Pussy" tape surfaced.
But for his financial crimes he could do hard time!!!!
And here's the irony: while his alleged financial crimes could put him in jail for years-- if they were false he could quickly disprove them-- and quickly. If they were false, all he'd have to do is release his taxes.
(there's only one reason he wouldn't release his taxes-- because he obviously has something to hide. If he was innocent, he would have no reason not to release them!
Well, everyone has their own taste regarding those things. The so-called "Golden Shower" fetish is not my particular "Cup of Tea" (to coin a phrase)...but hey-- Whatever Floats Yer Boat.
You'd love it?
Go ahead-- Enjoy! (We're all friends here-- no one's gonna judge you!!!
)
Why is it that you can't follow the conversation?
What is the problem--where is the disconnect between what I write and what you think I write?
If you need help understanding my posts, I am here for you!
just ask nicely!
This won't be popular, but I'm still waiting for hard evidence that this has happened. By that, I don't refer to agencies 'saying' or claiming other 'proofs' or 'evidence' that this or that has happened, or that if it did happen, that it is KNOWN to have been carried out by 'Russian intelligence.' I note that while this line is repeatedly shamelessly by most US based corporate news agencies, there seems to be less interest in covering reports of widespread illegal smartphone data extraction by US law enforcement in contravention of the Fourth Amendment guarantee of protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.
If the Upturn report [October] based on 110 public record requests to police agencies nationwide is correct and some 2,000+ police agencies have procured tools to and have performed hundreds of thousands of warrantless extractions , it makes some sense to offer a diversionary narrative of 'foreign' extraction. It would seem to me to be the greatest joke on the US public to be caught up in yet another campaign driven by the US ruling class while it spies the living daylights out of 'every-day' [i.e., working class] Americans.
After reading your comment, I just realized that you actually brought up three different things. So I will attempt to addressmthem one at a time:
1. Waiting for evidence it happened. Well, initial skepticism is always a good thing. But I've researched it a lot. And I'm convinced it actually did happen. (At this point I can't offer absolute proof to everyone...but I'm convinced.
2.
"or that if it did happen, that it is KNOWN to have been carried out by 'Russian intelligence.".
Well, again, I've really looked into this in depth-- spent several hours, actually. IMO the Russians were probably the perps. (The main question in my mind is not of the Russians did it, butr ather if they may have been other actors by other "bad actors"-- perhaps other attacks over time by the Iranians, and/or the ,the Chinese-- or even possibly by the Turks).
At this point it time, it seems like several U.S. Intelligence Agencies have found its the Russians. (Trump, of course, as usual, denies the Russians did anything "bad"-- he is trying to get us to believe it was the Chinese. (But of course his intererst is not in facts, but in pushing his Fake news" stopry that Putin is wonderful and that China is Evil. Which is behaviour of his that to be expected...)
3. You have also raised this issue:
there seems to be less interest in covering reports of widespread illegal smartphone data extraction by US law enforcement in contravention of the Fourth Amendment guarantee of protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Which,is a somewhat a related topic, (and while certainly worth discussing on NT) is not what I'm interested in discussing here. (It would be a good idea for you to do a Seed or Article on that topic...and see what people come up with).
But at this point, I'm certain of these facts: it happened, has been going on for a while, was almost certainly done by Russia, our government is guilty of negligence...and to me (as an investor) perhaps most important of all: its much, much worse than most people realize.
If it's wasn't the Russians who does that leave, North Korea, Iran or China whoever it was it's been on going since March and what agencies/companies have been penetrated and or if they are still active in the setting or who has been penetrated that we don't know about yet.
Politics aside this is some serious shit folks.
Yes-- and that is one of the more important points. I had been following the news coverage closely-- many have said its very serious-- but IMO they haven't yet conveyed how uniquely dangerous this was (and still has been!).
Perhaps tomorrow the media will more clearly convey how uniquely serious this has been....
This stuff has been going on for years. Why is it never considered an act of war? And if we won't go that far, how about some breach of treaty - either with us or the UN? Why doesn't NATO care?
It's theft. If we landed a plane in China or Russia and started loading up their property, it would be a huge international scandal. These hacks happen all the time and it barely registers in the international conscience (not to mention the domestic one).
Because we do it as much if not more than anyone. And we may be the best at doing it. You don't hear about us for a few reasons, we do it to probably every government on Earth, adversarial governments don't want to be embarrassed, or we haven't been caught. The reason we don't call it an act of war is because of the above stated reasons.
Yeah, but they don't have anything we want.
Yep. This is a murky area here, and one we need to be cautious about getting too upset about.
and one we need to be cautious about getting too upset about.
Well, you might be right.
However, from what I've rea, my current opinion is different. In fact, in allseriousness-- IMO the danger is that people will downplay the seriousness of this, the uniqueness of it-- and many are not getting upset enough about what happened!
Oh I am not at all saying that our government, internally needs to take serious actions. Of course they do and I imagine in 30 days they will. I mean publicly. Yes, make it clear that we are upset, but be careful about how severely you go at the Russians on the international stage, because again, we do the same damn thing, all the time, to everyone.
ROFL. OK, fair enough!
Basically, I feel like we should maybe be doing more to stop the hacks and the IP theft. But if we aren’t, and we’re also going to be going around doing it ourselves, maybe it shouldn’t be treated like such a big scandal. Seems hypocritical.
Well no, actually.
Sure, occasional attacks. And on a smaller scale.
But nothing as serious as this, nothing as widespread, etc.
(BTW, on of the companies that was sucessfully hacked was FireEye. Do you know what they do? Well, they themselves are a Cyber-Security company!!!)
Stuxnet was better.
How so?
It will be an act of war when the power gets switched off. Reading the various fictional books out there with a plot line about EMP’s being used to cripple the entire country will give you some idea of how significant a long term loss of power would be for the US. While the possible effect of an EMP is always over-exaggerated, our reliance on ubiquitous electricity and communications is very much taken for granted in this country.
Nope.
Not on this level.
Never nearly so widespread...
And never has a serious Cyber-Attack gone on for such an incredibly long time without being discovered.
Much ado about nothing..
Yeah, fuck it. Not like cyber security is important or anything bad can happen from a nations/corporations digital infrastructure from being compromised... We should at least put out a statement saying we aren't happy about it.
Yup-- just like all that unwarranted fake news's big Brouhaha about the Covid-19 Virus!
Remember that?
Much Ado About Nothing!
Saluting the Heroes of the Coronavirus Pandumbic
Hannity. Rush. Dobbs. Ingraham. Pirro. Nunes. Tammy. Geraldo. Doocy. Hegseth. Schlapp. Siegel. Watters. Dr. Drew. Henry. Ainsley. Gaetz. Inhofe. Pence. Kudlow. Conway. Trump. We salute the Heroes of the Pandumbic!
I think you're wrong.
Heck, I actually "put my money where my mouth is"
WTF-- are you serious???
(Update, 1/2/2021):
It's reportedly possible the hackers accessed Black Start, the detailed technical blueprints for how the U.S. would restore power if there was a major blackout. If that was indeed the case, Russia would theoretically have a list of systems it could target to keep power from turning back on.
Hardly "much ado about nothing"!!!
But but but, the guy who excuses Putin for EVERYTHING said it may not have been Russia... man who can I trust?
Well... there are many on this site who have strong cases of "TDS" (Trump's Delusion Syndrome)-- they are deluded into thinking he's a God-- or almost one! So their advice would be to trust Trump!
For starters, he never lies, has the interests of the common working man and the good of the people fore-most in his mind! (Well, that's what he says-- and would he ever lie? Of course not!).
So, you could trust Trump!~
Why not join "The Real Housewifve's of Mar-aLago-- and drink the Kool-Aid?
You'll be glad you did!
/sarc
OTOH-- maybe you can trust Putin?
(The following is perhaps my absolute favourite Lincoln Project film-- IMO its totally brilliant!)
Of course others may prefer one of their others...if so, you can embed your favourite here-- the person who seeded this article won't mind!
THE LINCOLN PROJECT -FELLOW TRAVELER
It's been found by several forensic IT companies and intelligence agencies to be Russia. This is no longer up for debate unless you know forensic IT or have links from someone who does that says different. It affected some 200 private companies and several government offices and will take months to clean out. The problem came in March when millions of people in the US were sent to work from home remotely. That opened new IT attack avenues that were nearly impossible to manage. Our government, corporate and personal IT security infrastructure is largely a joke. Hell, even Microsoft found malicious code in their systems. The more this gets downplayed the more often it will happen.
It is rather funny how so many of the Trump losers want to "see" the evidence when the fact is you could show them the actual IT forensics and they wouldn't understand a single line of it. But they'll still be demanding that someone show them the proof. That's their only defense of the indefensible, act as if they need to personally be convinced with "evidence" they wouldn't understand because they heard from Jim Bob down at the local bait and tackle that it was really China...
I've been following Krebs for years when if comes to IT security and that man knows what he's talking about. He's not a politician or a salesman - he's an IT security guy. If he says it's Russia and Microsoft says it's Russia and then the head of the CIA say it's Russian - will I'm going to believe them. When Trump tweets something about "fake news - China" I'm not going to entertain it unless they come up with something a bit more concrete. It's sad this will get downplayed by our government and those companies that were effected. Oh, I'm sure more "free" credit monitoring will be offered soon, but nothing seems to get done. Will it take holding some electrical grid hostage for someone to do something?
Sometimes you have to wonder who'sthe stupidist-- Trump or his Republican defenders....
Our government, corporate and personal IT security infrastructure is largely a joke. Hell, even Microsoft found malicious code in their systems. The more this gets downplayed the more often it will happen.
Yep.
Unfortunately for Trump and his a$$-kissers-- this is a story that's not going away.
And ironically, that not only true of Computer Viruses-- but also the Covid-10 Virus.
(The more this gets downplayed the more often it will happen).
And something to think about-- who has working overtime in a vain attempt to downplay both the Computer Virus and the Covid-19 virus?
Some 120 cyber security bills did not pass because of Moscow Mitch. He is an fing traitor and should be investigated in January.