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Insight On FBI Hacking Ops
New submitter krakman writes "The Washington Post has an interesting story about how the FBI can investigate and collect details from computers over the net, without knowing anything about the computer location. Here's an example of the FBI's network investigative techniques: 'The man who called himself "Mo" had dark hair, a foreign accent and — if the pictures he e-mailed to federal investigators could be believed — an Iranian military uniform. When he made a series of threats to detonate bombs at universities and airports across a wide swath of the United States last year, police had to scramble every time. Mo remained elusive for months, communicating via e-mail, video chat and an Internet-based phone service without revealing his true identity or location, court documents show. ... The FBI’s elite hacker team designed a piece of malicious software that was to be delivered secretly when Mo signed on to his Yahoo e-mail account, from any computer anywhere in the world, according to the documents. The goal of the software was to gather a range of information — Web sites he had visited and indicators of the location of the computer — that would allow investigators to find Mo and tie him to the bomb threats. ... Even though investigators suspected that Mo was in Iran, the uncertainty around his identity and location complicated the case. Had he turned out to be a U.S. citizen or a foreigner living within the country, a search conducted without a warrant could have jeopardized his prosecution. ...But, [a court document] said, Mo’s computer did send a request for information to the FBI computer, revealing two new IP addresses in the process. Both suggested that, as of last December, Mo was still in Tehran.'"
that might have been all he wanted.
There is a thing as a paragraph tag. Did not read.
Sounds like all "Mo" needed to do was pull his antics via VirtualBox with some firewall rules in place to block any outbound but to Yahoo or whatever his preferred launching pad was for his juvenile noise. Sheesh.
Also can't shake the image of Moe Sizlack, the Simpson's bartender, muttering to himself as he sends off the next faux threat.
"Had he turned out to be a U.S. citizen or a foreigner living within the country, a search conducted without a warrant could have jeopardized his prosecution"
It is almost like there's no possible way they could get a warrant on this guy, right? So, clearly, this is just another example of why the government can completely ignore the 4th amendment for your own protection. Requesting a warrant is WAY harder than writing and distributing a complex piece of malware such as is described and might have slowed them down by about 12 seconds. Of course, the cost is only the destruction of rights for a few hundred million people; no big deal.
Unless this Iranian troll was naive enough to open one of those "e-cards" that required a little "browser helper", this strongly suggests that Yahoo complied with the government's request to push spyware onto a specific member's computer. They could do this through the ad mechanism, or perhaps the all-new Yahoo! Email! has an embedded Patriot! Patch! facility built-in?
The FBI has been able to covertly activate a computer’s camera — without triggering the light that lets users know it is recording — for several years, and has used that technique mainly in terrorism cases or the most serious criminal investigations
... and in LoveINT cases too. If noone watches the watchers they will become stalkers too.
Re: the summary
Maybe it's because of how I have my settings, but the summary shows up as one big giant block of text. How is this readable?
The FBI’s elite hacker team designed a piece of malicious software that was to be delivered secretly when Mo signed on to his Yahoo e-mail account, from any computer anywhere in the world, according to the documents.
This is a bit movie-like and shouldn't generally be technically possible. Is there some misreporting in the article, or what?
who would call himself Mo? I don't think an Iranian or any native Muslim would choose Mo.
It's an insult to the name Mohammad, and a common American shortening of that name.
I'd more happily expect that "Mo" to be a kid from Cleveland.
If Iran is the kind of arch nemesis the Free World gets nowadays, why is everyone so worried?
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
WTF is point of this article?
So many details, stories about asking for court order when it was reported that agency ignored 1000 times similar requests in the past.
Iran is bad so drums get louder and louder again. So pathetic.
The next level of "Spyware" has arrived. Enjoy.
Or did Yahoo allow the FBI to compromise their system and allow the FBI to access the mailbox, read though the emails and get an idea on who to send the trojan from so the would open the email.
Well either way Yahoo has compromised mail servers or they allow the FBI to do as they wish with the Yahoo system.
by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
Not much was saved that day ..... From TFA:
The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
Right, like what has Iran ever done to the US and the West, anyway?
I mean, besides supplying training, logistical and intelligence support, safe refuge, and munitions to jihadists that kill US troops in Iraq & Afghanistan, and launch terror attacks and suicide bombings there and elsewhere against civilians including women and children, as well as military.
Oh, and grab Western tourists and hold them hostage.
Oh, and that little US embassy kerfluffle back in Jimmy Carter's administration that he handled so deftly.
But really, that's all ancient history. Has no bearing whatsoever. Why wouldn't we trust any diplomatic agreements or treaties made with them? Never mind there are Iranian officials openly mocking the idea of Iran actually obeying any meaningful restrictions to their nuclear ambitions in the recent "agreement" touted in the news and mocking the West for our stupidity to believe they would honor any such agreements.
That at the very least will cause Saudi Arabia and any others that possibly can to acquire nukes, and if the 13-Imam nut-cases in leadership positions in Iran like Ahmadinejad attempt or actually do nuke Israel, the entire world will explode in conflict, as I'm sure Israel will launch at least one wave of nukes in retaliation before the Iranian nukes clear their launch-towers.
Strat
Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
#!/bin/bash
echo "127.0.0.1 mail.yahoo.com" >>
Warrant? No. Fire them yesterday.
"Even though investigators suspected that Mo was in Iran, the uncertainty around his identity and location complicated the case. Had he turned out to be a U.S. citizen or a foreigner living within the country, a search conducted without a warrant could have jeopardized his prosecution."
Always good for some good old FEAR! UNCERTAINTY! DOUBT!
For those who don't know, the 13-Imam nut-cases believe in sort of a second coming of Christ type event when the world is embroiled in conflict and chaos that will destroy all infidels and bring the world back in line with Islam to create a paradise on earth situation. The scary part we should note is that some of these people think if they help the world go into chaos, it will hasten the return or appearance sort of like forcing the second coming of Jesus.
An no, you do not have to believe in any God or religion to be concerned about this. If they are wrong but have their way, the results will be the same, war and conflicts all around.
The US could turn virtually every major urban area of Iran into radioactive craters, could wipe out most of its navy and air force in 48 hours and likely most of its anti aircraft capacity in pretty short order as well.
When I think of major threats I think of Japan in WWII or the USSR during the Cold War.
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
All of 'em? Really?
---- The above post was generated by the Turing Institute. Maybe.
I mean, besides supplying training, logistical and intelligence support, safe refuge, and munitions to jihadists that kill US troops in Iraq & Afghanistan, and launch terror attacks and suicide bombings there and elsewhere against civilians including women and children, as well as military.
Citation needed for _all_ these things, seriously.
Oh, and grab Western tourists and hold them hostage.
Oh, and that little US embassy kerfluffle back in Jimmy Carter's administration that he handled so deftly.
But really, that's all ancient history.
It is fucking ancient history, comparatively. These events are as close to world war 2 as they are to the present day, and precisely as relevant to both.
Now... for anyone who actually remembers them... does that make you feel old?
The US could turn virtually every major urban area of Iran into radioactive craters, could wipe out most of its navy and air force in 48 hours and likely most of its anti aircraft capacity in pretty short order as well.
Which won't stop or deter them at all.
When I think of major threats I think of Japan in WWII or the USSR during the Cold War.
Which tells me you haven't learned enough history or enough about the people we're talking about that control Iran, and their history & beliefs.
We're talking religious zealot nut cases that think dying for their deity is glorious and expected.
They don't have to strike the US. Just Israel.
Israel will launch a retaliatory nuke strike. The Persian Gulf will likely become blocked/blockaded or simply too dangerous along with the Suez Canal. Then, the whole region falls into chaos and anarchy, followed by the major powers going to war for power, ideology, and resources while the world economy and the US Dollar/US economy collapses.
Strat
Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
Right, like what has Iran ever done to the US and the West, anyway?
I mean, besides supplying training, logistical and intelligence support, safe refuge, and munitions to jihadists
If that's true, how is it any worse than when the US supplied training, logistical and intelligence support, safe refuge, and muitions to jihadists? Or was that ok because then the media called jihadists freedom fighters, but now that the media calls them terrorists, despite their beliefs and acts remaining the same, it is not ok anymore? Or could it be there is a double standard? That'd explain how when Iran, a country that has not started a war for many years now (something that can't be said of their adversaries), says they will reduce their use of nuclear energy in six months that's a crime against humanity for which the only solution is murdering hundreds of thousands of their civilians, and when Israel assassinates dozens of Iranian scientists that's acceptable, because the worthless goyim can't be allowed to do science.
expect to see a lot more of these "See, privacy invasion is good for you" articles. Their purpose is to "prove" that all this spying and data collection helps catch some very naughty people in icky foreign countries. some of them with really bad accents or even terrible mustaches (aka "proof of evil").
Terrorist want to cause widespread fear and panic in the US population. So why the Iranian military uniform? I'd be wearing an NFL fan sweatshirt (different cities team for every broadcast) and use a nondescript Starbucks as a background. So the assumption is that he's in country already and Homeland Security goes to code red.
The Iranian uniform and Iranian IP indicates that he's still at home and just stirring the pot. But both the uniform and the IP are easy to spoof. And an Iranian officer would be risking career (and maybe literal) suicide by screwing up ongoing international nuclear negotiations. So I'd consider this as a false flag operation, aimed at making Iranians appear to be unstable. I'd be looking inside Israel for the source.
Have gnu, will travel.
1953 coup and the subsequent torture chambers just flushed down the memory hole, eh?
Could be that the reason some Iranians dislike the US is because we along with Britan kind of overthrew their democratcially elected prime minister Mossadegh back in 1953 and imposed the Shah.
I mean, besides supplying training, logistical and intelligence support, safe refuge, and munitions to jihadists
Remember Iran-Contra? Oh those evil Iranians, arming rebels and fomenting insurrection abroad.
But really, that's all ancient history.
Love picking at that scab, don't you? How were we getting along with Germany 32 years after our little kerfuffle with the Nazis? Did we stay this pissed off with them? Or is it a racial/religious thing?
That at the very least will cause Saudi Arabia and any others that possibly can to acquire nukes,
Muslim forces already have nukes. In fact, the same people who gave shelter to bin Laden. And I haven't heard a peep out of them. So perhaps the 'nutcase Imams' are a bit more level headed than you give them credit.
Have gnu, will travel.
The FBI's not the only one looking for this guy: http://youtu.be/eHHT7dTmw8U?t=57s
Buy your next Linux PC at eightvirtues.com
I'm not sure I have ever seen Americans trying to force the second coming of Christ. Could you provide some examples? I do know there are some who think the chaos in the world is signs of the tribulations and will end with the second coming and they welcome that but none that I know of who take the position that they can make it happen.
You see, one would be ancillary to the other as in if it happens, I will be happy. The other seems to think they can make it happen and they will be happy. A big difference just like the difference between wishing someone was dead or harmed so you will be happy and then being happy when they drive drunk and wrap themselves around a telephone pole and you actually killing them or harming them so you will be happy.
But yes, it is a strange concept of Jesus coming to aid a Muslim if you take the Christian religion into account.
We're talking religious zealot nut cases that think dying for their deity is glorious and expected.
ooohh... Sounds scary, until you realize it is basically the same thing as patriotic nutcases that think dying for their country is glorious and expected.
Don't quote me on this.
Is this a joke? This sounds exactly like what Borne Again Christians, including George W. Bush believe in.
It is not exactly the same. The difference is between something like that happening and being able to make it happen or encourage it to happen. I don't know of any christian groups that think they can do anything to make it happen where the 13th Imam groups believe if there is enough chaos in the world, it will force it to happen and by creating the chaos they can aid in it.
Outside that, yes, it is very close.. But this shouldn't surprise anyone. Islam is more or less a contrived version of Judaism or the correct version depending on the beliefs of who you talk to. Christianity is more or less an extension to Judaism revolving around a new covenant that was prophesied by the Judaism portions of the bible (which is mainly why the old testament is included- Jesus was a Jew). So it shouldn't surprise many if the culmination of the three have similar but different concepts. Even if those differences and similarities are expounded by differing sects within each religion.
"The Washington Post has an interesting story about how the FBI can investigate and collect details from computers over the net, without knowing anything about the computer location"
Don't you mean the Post has an interesting story about how easy it is to remotely hack a Windows computer over the Internet, in this case by opening a contaminated email attachment.
That all depends on what type of war they intend to fight in Iran. The one described is not the same that was fought in Afghanistan so your comparison is moot.
We have not fought a war of annihilation like WWII since then. Every war we have been involved with has always attempted to preserve resources for future use by factions within the waring country. That's a lot different then trying to conquer a nation. When you are willing to go Sherman on them and burn a trail to their capitol or bomb every single factory or annihilate entire cities, your efforts find a lot more victories then trying to distinguish between good and bad guys dressed similarly and in an area you are wanting to protect.
Even Germany who fought parts of the European war the same as we are fighting in Afghanistan, had troubles with resistance pockets except they didn't really care about killing innocents.
"Basically the same thing"?
Really?
So then, can you remember the last time a US soldier screamed "Praise Jesus!" before detonating a suicide vest among civilians including innocent women and children?
Yeah, me either.
You seem to have reached your fecal-matter capacity limits on that one.
Strat
Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
The poster is right. Iran is a threat, but not an existential threat. There's no possibility of them actually seriously destroying the US. Even if they did manage to make a nuclear bomb, they'd get smacked down so hard in that war the place would glow in the dark.
They can still pose a threat to US interests (the main US interest in that region being cheap, reliable oil). They could still kill a lot of people. They could still cause economic chaos. But when the dust settles, the US will be right there. Maybe a little bruise and minus a city, but still there.
Maybe the imams are just doing what any other politician does: Ramping up the rhetoric to tell the people what they want to hear in public.
It's aways hard to tell with politicians what they actually believe, and how much is a lie to ensure their popular support. Imams may be religious leaders, but really that's just another type of politician.
Sounds like the same argument people use to say black people cant be racist
Black people are a minority therefore they cant possibly be racist! only people with "white privilege" can be racist.
sadly being in the majority now seems to mean more restrictions
have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
we could if we were actually fighting a war like we did in WW2 et al. however when we have our hands tied behind our back and dont have a state to wage war against, only terrorists, and we dont have the balls anymore to say either you are with us, or you are against us, if you arent with us, move, or die. If we waged this war like a real war we would have been out of afghan and iraq within 3 months.
have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
Lisa - Nuke the whales? you dont actually believe that do you?
Nelson - Gotta nuke somethin'
have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
Seriously? Are people really saying that it's too much work to read all that text in the summary? I mean, sure, it could be organized better, but it's not even what I would call an unusually long paragraph. Has twitter and its ilk finally reduced people to this, an entire generation rendered incapable of handling large blocks of information at once? Does this kind of stuff really have to be spoon-fed to you a little at a time before you'll deign to read it?
Point taken? What about Viet Nam?
Have gnu, will travel.
Could be that the reason some Iranians dislike the US is because we along with Britan kind of overthrew their democratcially elected prime minister Mossadegh back in 1953 and imposed the Shah.
No.
Mossadegh was never elected, he was appointed by the Parliment after the previous guy got shot. There was an election which he himself halted partway through, but he was never "Democratically Elected" like you (and many others) claim.
A lot of people also seem to think that the US somehow appointed the Shah, which is also not true. The Shah had been fighting with Mossadegh (and others) internally for years, and continued to do so after Mossadegh was removed.
So the result was the Shah was a complete dick after his competition was removed, and not only pissed all over the country but proceeded to piss all over Islam and tried to force Westernization on the country. So naturally the eventual backlash was heavily supported and ran by the radical religious groups, and they used anti-US sentiment as a rally point. Meanwhile, you had both the Soviets and the Chinese with their fingers in the pot, stirring up anti-US feelings in order to further their own agendas.
Limited education and lack of historical knowledge over the years has turned the real story into "The US overthrew the rightfully elected and kindly Mossadegh, and in his place put up a brutal anti-Islamic Dictator".
Forcing God's Hand
Pat Robertson
Actually working to immanentize the eschaton is supposed to be unChristian, according to most denominations. But there is a significant Dispensationalist movement in the US that can hardly contain its glee when US or Israeli actions seem to fulfill one of their prophecies.
Muslims, you may not be aware, believe Jesus is the second most important prophet and also revere all the Old Testament fortune-tellers.
I'm pretty sure I remember US military personnel detonating bombs among civilians including inncen women and children, to "protect" the United States and the Constitution...
As others have mentioned, the US has enough resources that they don't have to resort to suicide bombing tactics. But, personally, I'd ask for what cause the ground troops in Iraq died for. It may upset you Americans, but honestly IMHO they were "patriotic nutcases that think dying for their country is glorious and expected", AND they killed innocent women and children.
I don't expect you to understand though. I wouldn't call you names based on your intellect and ability to understand alternative viewpoints, but I do concur with the other replies on this subject.
Don't quote me on this.
I'm pretty sure I remember US military personnel detonating bombs among civilians including inncen women and children, to "protect" the United States and the Constitution...
Be sure to let me know when the US military employs suicide bombs/vests in places of worship, malls, schools, etc, throws acid in schoolgirls' faces for daring to learn to read, or publicly stones gays/lesbians to death.
Then you might have a point.
False equivalency is not a point. It's intellectual dishonesty and disingenuous in the extreme. Hitler had ovens and so did/do we. That did/does not make us equally as evil as Hitler or equally guilty of committing or planning to commit mass genocide.
Strat
Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.