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WikiLeaks CIA Files: The 6 Biggest Spying Secrets Revealed By the Release of 'Vault 7' (independent.co.uk)
Earlier today, WikiLeaks unleashed a cache of thousands of files it calls "Year Zero," which is part one of the release associated with "Vault 7." Since there are over 8,000 pages in this release, it will take some time for journalists to comb through the release. The Independent has highlighted six of the "biggest secrets and pieces of information yet to emerge from the huge dump" in their report. 1) The CIA has the ability to break into Android and iPhone handsets, and all kinds of computers. The U.S. intelligence agency has been involved in a concerted effort to write various kinds of malware to spy on just about every piece of electronic equipment that people use. That includes iPhones, Androids and computers running Windows, macOS and Linux.
2) Doing so would make apps like Signal, Telegram and WhatsApp entirely insecure. Encrypted messaging apps are only as secure as the devices they are used on -- if an operating system is compromised, then the messages can be read before they are encrypted and sent to the other user(s).
3) The CIA could use smart TVs to listen in on conversations that happened around them. One of the most eye-catching programs detailed in the documents is "Weeping Angel." That allows intelligence agencies to install special software that allows TVs to be turned into listening devices -- so that even when they appear to be switched off, they're actually on.
4) The agency explored hacking into cars and crashing them, allowing "nearly undetectable assassinations." Many of the documents reference tools that appear to have dangerous and unknown uses. One file, for instance, shows that the CIA was looking into ways of remotely controlling cars and vans by hacking into them.
5) The CIA hid vulnerabilities that could be used by hackers from other countries or governments. Such bugs were found in the biggest consumer electronics in the world, including phones and computers made Apple, Google and Microsoft. But those companies didn't get the chance to fix those exploits because the agency kept them secret in order to keep using them, the documents suggest.
6) More information is coming. The documents have still not been looked through entirely. There are 8,378 pages of files, some of which have already been analyzed but many of which haven't. And that's not to mention the other sets of documents that are coming. The "Year Zero" leaks are just the first in a series of "Vault 7" dumps, Julian Assange said. You can view the Vault 7 Part 1 'Year Zero' release here via WikiLeaks. The Intercept has an in-depth report focusing on how the "CIA Could Turn Smart TVs Into Listening Devices."
2) Doing so would make apps like Signal, Telegram and WhatsApp entirely insecure. Encrypted messaging apps are only as secure as the devices they are used on -- if an operating system is compromised, then the messages can be read before they are encrypted and sent to the other user(s).
3) The CIA could use smart TVs to listen in on conversations that happened around them. One of the most eye-catching programs detailed in the documents is "Weeping Angel." That allows intelligence agencies to install special software that allows TVs to be turned into listening devices -- so that even when they appear to be switched off, they're actually on.
4) The agency explored hacking into cars and crashing them, allowing "nearly undetectable assassinations." Many of the documents reference tools that appear to have dangerous and unknown uses. One file, for instance, shows that the CIA was looking into ways of remotely controlling cars and vans by hacking into them.
5) The CIA hid vulnerabilities that could be used by hackers from other countries or governments. Such bugs were found in the biggest consumer electronics in the world, including phones and computers made Apple, Google and Microsoft. But those companies didn't get the chance to fix those exploits because the agency kept them secret in order to keep using them, the documents suggest.
6) More information is coming. The documents have still not been looked through entirely. There are 8,378 pages of files, some of which have already been analyzed but many of which haven't. And that's not to mention the other sets of documents that are coming. The "Year Zero" leaks are just the first in a series of "Vault 7" dumps, Julian Assange said. You can view the Vault 7 Part 1 'Year Zero' release here via WikiLeaks. The Intercept has an in-depth report focusing on how the "CIA Could Turn Smart TVs Into Listening Devices."
The real dirt is that the CIA did everything regarding "hacking the elections" that they then blamed on the Russians, to support their would-be sugar mama. That's an attempted coup d'eta. We're at the "means, motive, and opportunity" stage - next up are investigations, prosecutions, and probably, knowing Trump's impetuousness, hangings.
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
I am surprised that anyone would continue to risk themselves and leak this kind of information, since we have seen how willing the public is to stand up and defend its whistle-blowers (which is to say, not at all).
locking up a rival candidate would be really bad for democracy, no matter how much she deserved it.
locking up(or shooting) CIA operatives who interfered with democracy, however, would be great for democracy.
Snowden and Manning are heroes.
Food for thought: Michael Hastings was apparently investigating the C.I.A. when he died in what sounds like a suspicious car crash. Officially, foul-play was ruled out. Quote from Wikipedia: "Former U.S. National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism Richard A. Clarke said that what is known about the crash is "consistent with a car cyber attack". He was quoted as saying "There is reason to believe that intelligence agencies for major powers — including the United States — know how to remotely seize control of a car. So if there were a cyber attack on [Hastings'] car — and I'm not saying there was, I think whoever did it would probably get away with it."" (This quote is from 2013.) Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Why is no one pointing out that this was on Obama's watch?
Secret assassinations? Seriously?
Not surprising, some people today are just as ignorant about computers.
Though it scares me to think I may be ignorant about some FUTURE tech that comes out when I'm old.
The fact of the matter is that the main reason the government is turning into Big Brother is because unlike most of the people on this site, the typical American believes that all of those things are ridiculous conspiracy theories. Hence politicians who find a surveillance state to be reprehensible are few and far between. I can think of Ron Wyden and Rand Paul off the top of my head and they're treated like whackos.
To flippantly dismiss it at "that's spying and that's how it's been for the last 2-3 decades" is the type of submissive attitude that has allowed this to happen in the first place. The generations of our time exist at a crucial moment in history when the very notion of liberty is in jeopardy. If we allow an Orwellian government to take hold—which all of these actions by the CIA are precursors for—then it may be impossible to reverse.
I may sound hyperbolic but the extreme nature of the changes our society currently face only sound ridiculous to people because most don't want to believe that horrible things are happening (or at least, they don't want to believe they'll happen in their own lifetime). It's the same with climate change. People just hope that when the shit hits the fan they'll be long dead.
"From the depths of my skeptical and rationalist soul, I ask the Lord to protect me from California touchie-feeliedom."
It's more sinister than that.
Consider a one year old child today who may grow up to be a politician, high-level businessman, civil servant, inventor, etc.
That child is going to grow up with his communications logged, messages recorded, phone conversations intercepted, and what's more all his porn interests, mistakes in teenage years, drug taking, cheating, law breaking, foolish racist or bigoted or cruel utterances, web searches, fucking everything.
Then when they're making something of themselves they get a knock at the door and someone comes in with a big file.
The end consequence of this project means that the intelligence agencies will become our permanent rulers. Not even democracy can overturn them because democracy's players, our politicians, have and do make mistakes, mistakes which are captured by the agencies. And any revolution would be thwarted before it even began.
I think the biggest revelation is the fact that the CIA can, indeed, hack a car and potentially assassinate the driver: http://yournewswire.com/wikile...
Interestingly, Michael Hastings died when his car suddenly accelerated out of control and crashed, killing him instantly. He was currently investigating the director of the CIA, John Brennan!
Coincidence???????
???
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You're assuming that our society will continue onward.
Look around. The globe is warming up, weather is going bonkers, and the biosphere is getting ready to have a heart attack. We're in the biggest period of economic uncertainty ever thanks to race-to-the-bottom economics, ever encroaching automation, and the rise of thinking machines that can replace even once hallowed positions like doctors and lawyers. Politics has gotten incredibly divisive, with extremes so divorced from reality our great-grandparents wouldn't have accepted it as fiction. Instead of moving past things like race, gender, and class, we're edging closer and closer to starting civil wars based around those things.
The future isn't a boot stomping on a human face forever. It's at best, a perpetual post-collapse agrarian existence where our descendants tell their children grand tales of how the ancients used to be able to fly and cross the oceans in mere hours while being able to ask the machine spirits for the answer to any question they could imagine. Don't think it can happen? Remember that when Rome fell, we forgot how to make fucking concrete for a couple centuries. We have a lot further to fall this time.