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Federal Criminal Probe Being Opened Into WikiLeaks' Publication of CIA Documents (cnn.com)
A federal criminal investigation is being opened into WikiLeaks' publication of documents detailing alleged CIA hacking operations, CNN reports citing several U.S. officials. From the report: The officials said the FBI and CIA are coordinating reviews of the matter. The investigation is looking into how the documents came into WikiLeaks' possession and whether they might have been leaked by an employee or contractor. The CIA is also trying to determine if there are other unpublished documents WikiLeaks may have. The documents published so far are largely genuine, officials said, though they are not yet certain if all of them are and whether some of the documents may have been altered. One of the biggest concerns for the federal government is if WikiLeaks publishes critical computer code on how operations are conducted, other hackers could take that code and cause havoc overseas. Security expert Robert Graham, wrote on Tuesday: The CIA didn't remotely hack a TV. The docs are clear that they can update the software running on the TV using a USB drive. There's no evidence of them doing so remotely over the Internet. The CIA didn't defeat Signal/WhatsApp encryption. The CIA has some exploits for Android/iPhone. If they can get on your phone, then, of course they can record audio and screenshots. Technically, this bypasses/defeats encryption -- but such phrases used by Wikileaks are highly misleading, since nothing related to Signal/WhatsApp is happening. [...] This hurts the CIA a lot. Already, one AV researcher has told me that a virus they once suspected came from the Russians or Chinese can now be attributed to the CIA, as it matches the description perfectly to something in the leak. We can develop anti-virus and intrusion-detection signatures based on this information that will defeat much of what we read in these documents. This would put a multi-year delay in the CIA's development efforts. Plus, it'll now go on a witch-hunt looking for the leaker, which will erode morale.
> The compartmentalization that's supposed to prevent federal agencies from treading upon the rights those within the borders of the United States has been eroded in the name of the Wahr on Terrah to where if they want to circumvent, they can circumvent.
There's also that rule Obama signed right before Trump came in that lets them share data with everyone now. I'm not sure there's any clear line between the departments any more. Nor why Obama wanted to do something like that right before Trump came in.
Given the CIA's long history of overthrowing governments, even democratic governments, to further US interests, I'm not sure what to make of things any longer.
Assassination by car hack (Michael Hastings)
The intentionally putting everyone at risk by actively avoiding closing known security flaws - and allowing them to be exploited by foreign powers - goes directly against their stated reason to exist, but is more morally and professionally reprehensible than illegal.
You're missing several key points.
Michael Hastings was possibly assassinated by these very tools because he was investigating the director of the CIA.
The CIA may have lost control of all of these tools to the hacking community at large
The CIA may have been using these tools on US citizens.
The CIA may have been using these tools as a politicized weapon.
I understand. Hastings' death was suspicious as fuck. I would very much like to see evidence if in fact Hastings was assassinated by the CIA. So far I have not.
We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
Well I don't think you're going to get the smoking gun email where dude says "kill him" and minion replies "ok, I hacked his car, he just accelerated into a tree". We have motive, means, opportunity, and suspicious cause of death. It certainly requires an investigation. But who investigates the CIA?
All the right wing people I know were calling for Manning to be publicly hung or publicly executed by firing squad. Outspoken conservative commentator Sean Hannity has gone on record as recently as last week that he was against Wikileaks and thought they were all traitors 10 years ago and is now a supporter.