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Some Hackers Unknowingly Gathering Intel For the NSA

Posted by timothy on from the and-while-you're-at-it dept.

itwbennett writes As reported Wednesday by the news website The Intercept, the U.S. National Security Agency and its intelligence partners are sifting through data stolen by state-sponsored and freelance hackers on a regular basis in search of valuable information. A page from an internal wiki used by the intelligence agencies of the U.S., Canada and the U.K, which was last modified in 2012 and was among the files leaked by Edward Snowden reads: "Hackers are stealing the emails of some of our targets... by collecting the hackers' 'take' we 1) get access to the emails ourselves and 2) get insights into who's being hacked."

9 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. Not just unofficial hackers by gmuslera · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Other world governments that are increasing their internal population surveillance (in some cases, because they suspect NSA intervention in their internal affairs) are also surely giving that collected information to NSA in a silver platter by that same reason.

  2. And now for something completely different... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    This story reads like a Monty Python movie credit - "Those responsible for hacking the people who have just been hacked have been hacked."

  3. What I want to know is? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why aren't more Americans stepping up and demanding that the government grant Clemency to Snowden?

    Snowden did the right thing, and we all benefited from it, so we all owe him a favor.

    1. Re:What I want to know is? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      As Americans, there are some values we cherish above others, which you Eurotrash with your lack of a Bill of Rights or the fire of the Declaration of Independence, would never understand.

      And among those American values that we try to live our lives by, and teach to our childen through constant example, there is only one that we hold higher and more idealistic esteem than cowardice. And that premiere value is apathy. If you care about anything, that's not cool, and so, you aren't cool. And if you care and are willing to speak up about it, that's even not-cooler.

    2. Re:What I want to know is? by CaptainDork · · Score: 3, Informative

      That's your opinion .

      The American justice system is based upon law -- not opinion.

      The Snowden story is unfolding precisely as it should.

      The US government has the responsibility to mitigate and litigate leaks. Snowden could have used the whistle-blower route. He says he has good reason for not doing that. Whether he is guilty of treason or other crimes has yet to be determined. Until such time, he is presumed to be innocent.

      He's in Russia and they will not give him up. That's Russia's call. Snowden's documents are still being released and that's expected.

      --

      Clemency is not granted by popular vote. It is granted via due process. Snowden is avoiding due process, and, because he is working within the legal framework of a complicated mixture of US and Russian law, his situation is still legal when judged in his current context. Russia will not extradite, and that's their business. US cannot extract him and that is what it is.

      Until America or Russia or Snowden chooses to make a move to change things, the legality of each party is in equilibrium.

      Until due process is applied, no one is guilty ... all are innocent.

      Public opinions have no legal standing in the matter.

      So it is written, so let it be done.

      --
      It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
    3. Re:What I want to know is? by mrchaotica · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Because most of those of us with the courage to post under our own /. ID...

      Speak for yourself, fascist!

      Snowden did nothing whatsoever to "damage" the USA; the NSA did all the damage itself. Snowden is a hero, period.

      That said, the government should not "grant clemency" to Snowden because doing so still implies that he did something wrong and the government is merely being "merciful." Instead, what the government should do is exonerate Snowden and go after the real criminals, i.e., the treasonous fuckwads at the NSA.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

  4. How is this Canada ? by Crashmarik · · Score: 3, Funny

    Really

    Shouldn't there be an octopus strangling the globe or maybe a man in black icon for this

    1. Re:How is this Canada ? by RelaxedTension · · Score: 3, Funny

      Because we're the only country that doesn't have any oversight at all. Who do you think is really in charge of five eyes? It's always the quiet, polite ones that you need to be worried about.

  5. Letters of Marque by Meditato · · Score: 3, Interesting

    How long until the NSA/FBI/DHS/CIA begin issuing Letters of Marque and Reprisal to hackers and (online) pirates, to do the surveillance dirty work for them?