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Googling for CIA Agents

Posted by Zonk on from the tomorrow-today dept.

yali writes "As the heat turns up on the investigation into how an undercover CIA officer's identity was leaked to the press a technology columnist at the SF Chronicle, David Lazarus, shows how easy it is to identify individuals via the Internet. Even with little information, using widely available tools like Google and LexisNexis, it is possible to turn up startlingly relevant details." From the article: "I then went back to Google and got a map of Plame's neighborhood and directions to her home. Google also allowed me to study a high-resolution satellite photo of Plame's house. I could see that the property appears to be in a quiet residential community and looks approachable from all sides. It also offers ready access by car to major thoroughfares."

9 of 494 comments (clear)

  1. You're Not Field Officers by cynic10508 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nerds playing at being intelligence operatives. Cute.

  2. Her Biggest Mistake by ndansmith · · Score: 5, Funny

    She probably shouldn't have joined that "CIA Spooks Only" group at Google groups.

  3. But if they had access to by WebHostingGuy · · Score: 4, Funny

    their wallet and jewelry box they could look for the "I am a certified spy" card and secret decoder ring.

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  4. Did they...? by AtariAmarok · · Score: 5, Funny

    Did Google present some nice associated ad-links for James Bond cameras, trenchcoats, and Le Carre books while you were doing these searches?

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    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  5. Next week's column by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    What's his scare tactic for next week? How about "Did you know that your name and address are recorded in a privately-produced book that's located in every house and street corner in your town? For a city like New York, that's over 10 million copies of your private information."

  6. Can someone please... by spun · · Score: 4, Funny

    post David Lazarus address, phone number and google map coords? I'm interested in, uh, how accessible his house is by large van...

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    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  7. Wow! by pete-classic · · Score: 5, Funny
    I could see that the property appears to be in a quiet residential community and looks approachable from all sides. It also offers ready access by car to major thoroughfares.


    A house in a residential area? With easy access by car? And no moats or dragons near by? This must be some sort of top secret CIA house of the future!

    Sensationalism at its finest.

    -Peter
  8. Re:On Nomenclature: by pcidevel · · Score: 4, Funny

    Likewise, I'd go to jail just the same if i was threatening the life of George Bush or the President of the United states.

    Or, Laura Bush's husband.

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  9. Re:You're Right: And... Nothing by ArsonSmith · · Score: 4, Funny

    I jsut googled for "CIA Agents" and got over 1.6 Million hits. That's a lot of agents.

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