False Flags: The Kremlin’s Hidden Cyber Hand

The Observer ^ | 18JUN2016 | John R Schindler

[AdmSmith]

The Islamic State’s hacking army doesn’t actually work for ISIS—It’s part of the secret Russian online espionage effort against the Wes

Now we learn that these Kremlin hacking efforts extend far beyond the DNC. Targets in recent Russian cyber-attacks include numerous think-tanks, law firms, lobbyists, and consultants. There were also almost 4,000 Google accounts targeted in a “spear-phishing” campaign to steal personal and privileged information. It’s clear that this coordinated offensive aimed at the heart of our nation’s capital stole a great deal of inside knowledge about America’s political elite that would be of high value to any foreign intelligence service.

[AdmSmith]

I previously explained in this column how Hillary Clinton’s email shenanigans helped our enemies, including Russia, while harming our national security. Now it’s evident that our political system has been penetrated top-to-bottom by Russian spies. Whoever moves into the White House in January will face digging out from a security debacle of unprecedented proportions, with the Kremlin holding the upper hand across the board.

[AdmSmith]

The Cyber Caliphate is a Russian false-flag operation.

[wastoute]

Just another reason to run every one in DC out of town.

[SunkenCiv]

[thoughtomator]

Given what the US government does, Russian cyber efforts seem pretty limited in scope.

[AdmSmith]

Really, do you have any knowledge about this?

[AdmSmith]

Can you answer your own qustion http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3432647/posts?page=67#67 ?

[thoughtomator]

I have extensive knowledge about this, as it lies squarely within my profession.

What’s with your obsession with anti-Russian rabble rousing? Personal axe to grind or something?

[AdmSmith]

You asked “Please name the wars started by Putin.”

For a start: Are you familiar with Chechnya? https://www.amazon.com/Putins-Wars-Rise-Russias-Imperialism/dp/1442253584/

[thoughtomator]

Do you ever get embarrassed at your inability to gain command of basic facts - such as Putin not being the leader of Russia during either recent war in Chechnya - or are you paid well enough to not let that bother you?

[Lazamataz]

I have certain knowledge, myself, due to my profession, that might explain the OPM breach that put every Federal worker and contractor's information out to foreign countries. Namely, that the Obamacare website was greenlighted without an ATO (Authorization to Operate). This is NEVER done, and implies severe security holes, which were confirmed. Obamacare 's website went live with two high risks and 17 medium risks (article here).

Knowing, as I do, the operation of IT in Federal agencies, this is 100% against the law and is a very severe risk to the information infrastructure at the Federal level.

I raised a big stink about it when it happened. No one seemed to be as upset as I, probably due to the esoteric and technical nature of this issue. I seriously wonder if this (and Hillary's unsecured server) were how foreign countries got behind the firewall to get into OPM records.

[Lazamataz]

The release of the website without an ATO had to come from the top. Possibly even from Obama himself.

[thoughtomator]

I concur. I was waving the red flag madly about telling anyone who would listen that the ACA website should not be used due to the near-certainty of being exposed to identity theft.

With regards to the OPM theft, the database was reportedly breached via a Chinese subcontractor who was granted admin access to do some technical work.

[Lazamataz]

With regards to the OPM theft, the database was reportedly breached via a Chinese subcontractor who was granted admin access to do some technical work.

Ah. Thanks. I always have wondered why the hell we employ foreign nationals in sensitive roles in Federal agencies. I have seen it over and over and it absolutely flabbergasts me.

I still believe that both the Obamacare website and Hillary's unsecured server left wide-ass-open doorways for every foreign government in the world.

[Lazamataz]

As a not-so-amusing aside, though, since I am effected by the OPM breach, I probably don’t need to worry about using the Obamacare website.

Belarus already knows everything there is to know about me.

[AdmSmith]

your inability to gain command of basic facts - such as Putin not being the leader of Russia during either recent war in Chechnya

I suggest that you check the time-line for the positions held by Mr. Putin and the wars in Chechnya.

In case that you do not trust https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin you may try the Russian version https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D1%83%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BD,_%D0%92%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80_%D0%92%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87 or perhaps read the info here http://putin.kremlin.ru/bio

I will be happy to provide you with more links, even in Russian if you prefer that.

[thoughtomator]

How is this relevant to anything?

Having the hots for conflict with Russia is both unproductive and unwise. I don’t see a valid point to your scaremongering efforts.

[thoughtomator]

> I always have wondered why the hell we employ foreign nationals in sensitive roles in Federal agencies. I have seen it over and over and it absolutely flabbergasts me.

It’s 100% security theater. Everything should be assumed to be compromised at this point, and there is no good way to put that genie back in the bottle while the highest and lowest levels of government employ are both riddled with those whose loyalties lie elsewhere.

Think TSA writ large, that’s what the situation has really come down to. Whatever anchor the various federal agencies and their employees may once have had to the national interest is now entirely unmoored.