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The CIA Built a Fake Software Update System To Spy On Intel Partners (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the sensitive-information dept.

Documents published by Wikileaks reveal a secret project to siphon out data through its technical liaison service, dating back to 2009. The Verge reports: The program, called ExpressLane, is designed to be deployed alongside a biometric collection system that the CIA provides to partner agencies. In theory, those partners are agreeing to provide the CIA with access to specific biometric data -- but on the off-chance those partners are holding out on them, ExpressLane gives the agency a way to take it without anyone knowing. ExpressLane masquerades as a software update, delivered in-person by CIA technicians -- but the documents make clear that the program itself will remain unchanged. Instead, the program siphons the system's data to a thumb drive, where agents can examine it to see if there's anything the partner system is holding back. If the partners refuse the phony update, there's a hidden kill-switch that lets agents shut down the entire system after a set period of time, requiring an in-person visit to restore the system.

110 comments

  1. Lol by Jesus+H+Rolle · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Guess who's going to prison... nobody!

    1. Re:Lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

      They were stupid enough to get caught spying on people they rely on to cooperate with them. They just made their own jobs a lot harder.

      Not so smart after all.

    2. Re:Lol by jabuzz · · Score: 1

      Depending on who they where "spying" on and what agreements where in existence between the said governments, random spooks doing this sort of shit and jeopardising important intelligence sparing operations should probably be looking at jail time IMHO.

    3. Re:Lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You're forgetting about the family of the poor corpse that snitched on this once they find him.

    4. Re:Lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Except this has happened throughout history and allies know allies spy on allies. The only thing that changes when they get caught is security procedures.

      No one's making life harder for another agency over this because they're still ultimately reliant on each other for intel to stop real threats from terrorism to state actors who aren't allies.

      All that'll happen is they'll tell them they ain't sticking this software on anymore and they'll share the data another way. It's going to have zero impact on cooperation agreements, it never has, and it never will, because the people in charge of things like this aren't as petty as Slashdot crybabies and are too focused on getting the job done - i.e. keeping out foreign agencies, and catching terrorists etc. to engage in some petty little tit for tat. More likely than not, the people involve at each agency will have a laugh with each other about it.

    5. Re:Lol by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Yes, spies are spying. That's their job. And when a spy is caught spying, they're shot.

      That is my job.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    6. Re:Lol by JohnFen · · Score: 1

      the people in charge of things like this aren't as petty as Slashdot crybabies and are too focused on getting the job done

      Wait, so expecting ethical behavior from your partners, and strenuously insisting that your systems are secure counts as being "crybabies" now?

  2. What would you expect in Putin's Russia? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    This would never happen in the US of A!

    1. Re:What would you expect in Putin's Russia? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's high time the 'allies' of the US stop acting like the US is their ally.

    2. Re:What would you expect in Putin's Russia? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's an even higher time the citizens of the US stopped acting like the intelligence and terrorism arms of their own government were not at war with them.

    3. Re:What would you expect in Putin's Russia? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Allegedly it's intelligence and counter-terrorism. But more and more it feels like counter-intelligence and terrorism.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    4. Re:What would you expect in Putin's Russia? by BlueStrat · · Score: 3

      Allegedly it's intelligence and counter-terrorism. But more and more it feels like counter-intelligence and terrorism.

      It's basic human nature at work. You give a group of people (government) power over another group (citizens), and it will be abused. The more power the first group has over the second, the more and the harsher the abuse. It's the reason in a nutshell why the US Constitution was written to be almost entirely about restricting the Federal government to narrowly-defined & limited powers and duties.

      Remember boys and girls, since nation-states became a thing, more citizens have died at the hands of their own government than have died in all the wars by a huge margin. Be careful what you wish for...you just may get it!

      Strat

      --
      Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
    5. Re:What would you expect in Putin's Russia? by Megol · · Score: 1

      Remember boys and girls, since nation-states became a thing, more citizens have died at the hands of their own government than have died in all the wars by a huge margin. Be careful what you wish for...you just may get it!

      Only if you define being killed in war as "died at the hands of their own government". And that definition would be ludicrous.

    6. Re:What would you expect in Putin's Russia? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only if you define being killed in war as "died at the hands of their own government"

      [citation needed]

      If you want to disprove the null hypothesis, bring the numbers or GTFO.

      Science!

  3. Oh, Intelligence Partners? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Intel... PCI Express Lanes... why's the CIA spying on Intel and its partners?

    1. Re:Oh, Intelligence Partners? by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 2, Insightful

      why's the CIA spying on Intel and its partners?

      It's usually just plain called "Industrial Espionage".

      The CIA will claim it is necessary to ensure US military technology superiority against any potential threats.

      Victims of Industrial Espionage see it differently . . . the whole point is to "help out" US tech companies compete against foreign folks. To return the favor, the US tech companies "help out" the CIA/NSA if they need any back doors in their products.

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    2. Re:Oh, Intelligence Partners? by msauve · · Score: 5, Informative

      "why's the CIA spying on Intel and its partners?"

      So they can use Intel's Management Engine to spy on the rest of us.

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    3. Re:Oh, Intelligence Partners? by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

      I have servers at home. and so, they are probably spying on my 8x as much.

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
  4. Thanks Obama. by ckatko · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Ever notice how anything the CIA does post Trump is Trumps fault, but pre-Trump is never Obama's fault?

    1. Re:Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd love to blame Obama also, but he's the first black POTUS out of office for at least 6 months now. You are really trying too hard or, more likely, not at all.

    2. Re:Thanks Obama. by meerling · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Pretty much all I've seen is trumpets blaming everything on either obama or hillary, whether it happened after obama was out of office, during his 2 terms, or things that happened before for that matter. They've really got some serious issues, but I don't think even freud could help them!

    3. Re:Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Obama is as much of a white man as he is a black man.

      Racist of him to ignore his white heritage

    4. Re:Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Err... no? Where are you seeing that?

    5. Re:Thanks Obama. by deviated_prevert · · Score: 0

      Ever notice how anything the CIA does post Trump is Trumps fault, but pre-Trump is never Obama's fault?

      One fly in the ointment here, the CIA has essentially been invisible since His Majesty of the DT took over the orafice of POTUS and down graded it to POtuS status. Essentially the CIA run amok is because if Obama did anything to restrain them it would have not made it past capital hill. So instead he focused on getting the affordable care act enacted and left the dirty dealing specialists alone to do their, well DIRTY WORK.

      Hillary's e-mail screw ups while she was in her much anointed secretarial position didn't effect the CIA work done to get Bin Laden. So if anything one might just find that her and the CIA letting some info go wild is as important as getting it. Something which the previous Republican asshole were incapable of doing effectively. With BUSH league vice asshole Chaney, meddling with the CIA intel people and fucking them over into giving bullshit "weapons of mass distraction" intel, who can blame the CIA for going it alone and creating some innovative ways of getting real intel. Don't forget this ho hum big deal software trojan scheme goes all the way back to a time when Bin Laden was alive and laughing at the US and especially the Republicans for invading Iraq instead of concentrating on the real problems with assholes like Assad and the real radicals in North Pakistan and Afghanistan.

      All the Bush invasion of Iraq did was to put pressure on the Saudis to keep oil prices down and get the stuff flowing from northern Iraq again. Essentially the taking control of the reserves out of the hands of Saddam Hussein and making the Saudis position very difficult. Not too much different from Saddam invading Kuwait and then blowing up their oil production to spite the US and increase his illegal northern export market share, he did have a cozy relationship with the Assad regime when it came to oil exports and was laughing at the US sanctions.

      NO the US has been fucked over by the republicans to the extent that the rest of the world is well aware of the bullshit. Trump and his antics are just a laughing stock to most sane humans everywhere on this planet, contrary to popular belief the CIA is still very much respected by the rest of the world but the few sane US republicans are on life support. My prediction is that when Chaney finally kicks the bucket Colin Powell will finally come clean and tell the truth about how he was hood winked and made to look like a fool. NOW that would really be something, Colin Powell as the first black Republican president. President.. HMM not a bad idea. I'm sure he could get health care repealed and sooth the assholes in the once lucrative US health insurance industry who are still hell bent and desperate to kill it.

      --
      This message was not sent from an iPhone because Peter Sellers really was a deviated prevert without a dime for the call
    6. Re:Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      No black man is ever going to be as white as Michael Jackson.

    7. Re: Thanks Obama. by CGordy · · Score: 1

      This is more likely to be George Bush's fault.

    8. Re:Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Essentially the CIA run amok is because if Obama did anything to restrain them it would have not made it past capital hill.

      In this inability to tame the TLAgencies, his reign is nearly identical to the previous one, and in fact the one before that. (I read that in _Against All Enemies_.) With, of course, the implication that the rot stretches back much further. Plausible because time and again something blows up in the world, the CIA turns out to have sown the seeds of discord only to eventually see it backfire and also blow up in American faces. You don't have to take my furriner word for it, that book's author is an American of quite the patriotic bonafides.

      As a non-American, I don't mind that so much, but I do mind the collateral damage. Which includes all the native civilian lives, and that's quite the butcher's bill. And then there's the world heritage destroyed by CIA-trained operatives, including such sites as Palmyra. Thanks, CIA.

      Aside: You may want to look up the difference between "affect" and "effect".

      Don't forget this ho hum big deal software trojan scheme goes all the way back to a time when Bin Laden was alive and laughing at the US

      You really have to understand why he was laughing so hard. He stuck one in Unle Sam's eye and the CIA had ultimately helped him do it.

      and especially the Republicans for invading Iraq

      That was all the administration despite the relevant experts saying it was a bad idea.

      instead of concentrating on the real problems with assholes like Assad and the real radicals in North Pakistan and Afghanistan.

      Nevermind that Assad is one of the few actors actually achieving much of anything there, and a stabilising factor in the region. He's no saint but contrary to a lot of others, he gets things done and is reasonably honest about it. Not so the CIA, not so the US, not so Turkey. In fact, it's the US and its vassals that've destabilised the region by vying to remove the unpalatable but stabilising regimes that gave way to the "Arab spring", that doured quite quickly into even more bloodshed.

      Nevermind all that. Trojanising software is much older than that also. They've been at it for a long, long time. When did that Russian gas pipeline blow up again?

      NO the US has been fucked over by the republicans to the extent that the rest of the world is well aware of the bullshit.

      As an unwelcome voice from the rest of the world, it really isn't just reperblicans or demercrats. It's just you lot fscking it up time and again, and you won't learn. Why? Because the only thing you care about is moaning about reperblicans or demercrats, as if ever more minute ideological differences are somehow more important than the entire rest of the world. You world-wide empire of backward provincials, you.

      Trump and his antics are just a laughing stock to most sane humans everywhere on this planet,

      They're a welcome relief, actually, certainly considering the alternative, and as long as he remains as ineffectual as he is. Yes, he's an idiot and yes his stupid plans are stupid, but don't forget that the previous two(!!!!) presidents, both re-elected, either did a bunch of excruciatingly stupid things or completely failed to mop up any of the damage, and neither got much of anything constructive going. In a sense, Mr. Orange is much more honest than the previous two. Now to see if he really can drain that swamp. Probably not, but at least he knows where (some of) the real problems are.

      contrary to popular belief the CIA is still very much respected by the rest of the world

      As instigators of much of the trouble that they then come by and "just have to" step in to "fix it even worse" because their fscking it up is somehow our fault. They do that arrogant incompetence

    9. Re:Thanks Obama. by El+Cubano · · Score: 2

      Pretty much all I've seen is trumpets blaming everything on either obama or hillary, whether it happened after obama was out of office, during his 2 terms, or things that happened before for that matter. They've really got some serious issues, but I don't think even freud could help them!

      Well, it is par for the course. Recall that the start of the Obama was an endless chorus of "it's Bush's fault" continuing until well after the 2012 election. That did not happen so much during the Bush presidency, but I suspect that is because September 11 happened so soon after he took office and at that point everyone in the country united under a common cause. Even after the unity dissolved, the government stayed focused on the "Global War on Terror" until well into the Obama presidency. If not for September 11, I am sure we would have heard lots more "it's [Bill] Clinton's fault." If you remember, Bush got elected during the dot-com meltdown, so there was plenty of fodder there for the spin doctors to try to pin on [Bill] Clinton.

      My opinion on this with respect to Trump is the same as it was with respect to Obama: you can"t run on "the last guy made a total mess and I am going to clean up" and then blame every problem you encounter on the last guy. As the new leader you get to suck it up, take the lumps, and solve the problem. If you don"t want clean up duty, then don't run for office in the first place.

    10. Re: Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Looks 100% black to me.
      That's white genocide for you.

    11. Re:Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ever notice that neither the summary and linked article say anything about Trump or Obama?

      Of course not. You were too busy reacting defensively to stop and think or read.

      Maybe you should take a few minutes to think about that. A bit of self-awareness might do you some good.

    12. Re:Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Obama got blamed so much for so many different things that "Thanks, Obama" was a meme used to blame things that obviously had nothing to do with Obama on Obama.

      "I just got a speeding ticket for going 150 in a 45. Thanks, Obama!"

    13. Re:Thanks Obama. by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 2

      Sorry but who's blaming trump over this? All he ever does with the CIA is bitch about them and then ignore or worse discvlose the intel they've given him.

      --

      Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

    14. Re:Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No white man will ever be as white as Michael Jackson!

    15. Re: Thanks Obama. by king+neckbeard · · Score: 1

      Nope, you just don't know what "actual" black people look like. Most black people in America are not of fully African heritage, which is why you have different skin tones. Go to Africa, and Wesley Snipes looks pale.

      --
      This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
    16. Re:Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      out of office for 6 months

      So we are still on an Obama budget.

      Oh wait, he never passed on of those either.

    17. Re: Thanks Obama. by KGIII · · Score: 1

      LOL You've never been to Africa, have you?

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    18. Re:Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The thing with September 11th 2001 is that the Bush presidency had been left with a rather impressive amount of warnings and information on the possibility and likelihood of attacks around that timeframe, and continued receiving increasingly alarming warnings as it got closer.

      Instead of stopping it, they took advantage of it to an unprecedented degree while also turning a surplus-generating budget into what would eventually be a catastrophic economic crash and a gigantic scam of a TARP tossed over it. Much of the complaints about Obama were in response to this financial crisis that finally imploded in mid-september 2008, leaving the new administration not only mired in it but faced with having only a sliver of a majority in the Senate versus a unified front.

    19. Re: Thanks Obama. by KGIII · · Score: 2

      Trump got more fat women out walking, in just six months, than Michelle Obama managed in eight whole years.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    20. Re: Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You know, that big country where the black folks come from, Africa. Turn south at Europe.

    21. Re:Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "I'm a snowflake, and i'm still butthurt over the election. Thanks, Obama!"

    22. Re:Thanks Obama. by JohnFen · · Score: 1

      Nope

    23. Re: Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I guess the truth hurts your feelings. Go play outside, you are pale and lacking in relationships.

    24. Re: Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can't play outside, you idiot, there's a fucking hurricane out there.

    25. Re: Thanks Obama. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Partisan sniping like this is 11 kinds of stupid.

      This happened during Obama's watch, but was no doubt underway during Bush.... but does anyone here really believe that Bush, Obama, Clinton or Trump is going to be involve at this level?

      Bush and Obama gave us Patriot I and II. Clinton fully cooperated. There isn't a dime's worth of difference between the parties on spying on Americans, let alone on non-citizens.

      But if our president is digging down to the "should the CIA we use a thumb drive to get data from some computer", we've really lost it. The CIA has on the order of 20,000 employees. The president isn't in on most of what they are doing. He gets the briefing if they find anything. And if they tell him they need more powers to get the bad guys, he goes out and gets it or authorizes it on his own authority.

      So no, not Bush's fault, or Obama's fault, or Trump's fault, or Clinton's fault..... this is standard spy fare.

    26. Re: Thanks Obama. by Megol · · Score: 1

      Africa have a huge variety in "races" (not politically or technically correct but...) with varying heights, skin color, bone structures etc. Only racist (this one is technically correct!) and idiots wouldn't know that. I assume you are of the second kind?

    27. Re: Thanks Obama. by Pikoro · · Score: 1

      Thanks Obama

      --
      "Freedom in the USA is not the ability to do what you want. It is the ability to stop others from doing what THEY want"
    28. Re: Thanks Obama. by king+neckbeard · · Score: 1

      I'm not saying everyone in Africa has the same skin tone. My point was that if you think (like GP did) that Obama is "100% black," you probably aren't familiar with how dark-skinned many native Africans are.

      --
      This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
  5. Relief by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The only thing with word "express" on my drive is "nero express." So am good.

  6. Why are our intel secrets being leaked like this? by execthis · · Score: 3, Interesting

    These leaks are really alarming. Why has this been happening? Who is accountable for it? Did this occur under Obama's watch (or failure thereof)?

  7. Anyone stupid enough to get in bed with spooks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    probably deserves to be taken advantage of, but not the people whose data they handle.

    1. Re:Anyone stupid enough to get in bed with spooks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Says the CIA: "That's a nice company you've got there. It would be a shame if something happened to it."

      Says the Mob: "That's a nice company you've got there. It would be a shame if something happened to it."

      Specifically referencing the OP and "If the partners refuse the phony update, there's a hidden kill-switch that lets agents shut down the entire system..."

  8. If You Deal With Spooks You Get Haunted by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Why is anyone so surprised?

  9. Is this news? by jandersen · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Wouldn't it be more surprising to hear that CIA genuinely didn't spy on everybody and never did things they weren't supposed to? They are a spy agency - it is their job.

    1. Re:Is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Breaking news. The Census Bureau has been seen going door to door.

    2. Re:Is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wouldn't it be more surprising to hear that CIA genuinely didn't spy on me whilst in the shower and never did things that advanced corporate interests instead of national interests? They are a spy agency - no one will know otherwise.

      Fixed it for you.

    3. Re:Is this news? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      True, but Intel are probably somewhat bummed that people have lost trust in them because apparently they can't secure their updates against hacking. If the CIA can do it, we should probably assume that they have been pwned by the FSB, North Korea and some 14 year old kid.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    4. Re:Is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fuck you actual Trumpie Traitor

    5. Re:Is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      "Spying on everybody and doing things they aren't supposed to" is not their job, the same way that "shooting everybody and doing things they aren't supposed to" is not the army's job. The CIA is an intelligence agency - that naturally involves plenty of spying, but two things they specifically should not be doing are: "spying on everybody" and "things they aren't supposed to".

    6. Re:Is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not INTegrated ELectronics, "intelligence" agencies.

    7. Re:Is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, they're basically supposed to be dragged out and shot for doing any of it against anyone inside the country.

    8. Re:Is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, they are 'supposed' to be an EXTERNAL spy agency. Not an internal one.
      That's how they were created & you've certainly heard lots of tales of their overseas involvement.

      What you've described is like excusing grandpa for shooting his guns on the inside the house just because he can.
      "But grandma, he IS a duck hunter you know. So what if he brings it into the house! Right? Granma are you ok? GRANDMA?!?"

    9. Re:Is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How is this informative? The CIA does not spy on anyone that they are not directed to spy on. If the President, a joint chief, etc. asks a question and no one knows the answer, the CIA or some other organization is going to be tasked with getting that answer. That's how things work. It is next to impossible to get any agency to do anything proactively, even when it makes obvious sense. For instance when all of the emails of Syria's ruling party became available on hacking boards, no one could be convinced that it was even worth downloading because they didn't currently have a task for that! If you knew how much paperwork was involved in getting a "project" going at places like the CIA you would be appalled to the point that your ridiculous paranoia would be superseded. Most of what the CIA was up to 25 years ago has been declassified. Go read up on that and see if you think they were spying on everyone then and document why you think that has changed. They have been reeled in time and time again (mostly for good reason) since then, but at no point were they ever "spying on everybody". They just don't have the staff.

    10. Re:Is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, and why don't we use the military as a domestic police force while we're at it, too?

    11. Re:Is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "It's their job"

      The worst excuse for being a terrorist organization.

      There are unfortunately people, including security researchers that think that espionage is just fine (as long as it they are benefiting the USA).

  10. Who plugs in the USB drive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So it pretends to be an in-person update, but still requires someone to be there in-person to plug in and remove the usb drive?
    Seems kind of pointless to me when then could just send someone to do an "in-person update".

  11. Re: Why are our intel secrets being leaked like th by ewanm89 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yes! These damning leaks need to stop, how can we commit abuses against our own citizens otherwise. Don't worry, I'm sure the CIA only used this on foreign Intel partners in this case. We are already trying to work out who is responsible for leaking the document do we can charge them with espionage and treason.

  12. Oh! *intelligence* partners. by ross1160 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I was wondering why the CIA were involved in domestic industrial espionage

    1. Re:Oh! *intelligence* partners. by campuscodi · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Nothing in the US makes sense anymore

    2. Re:Oh! *intelligence* partners. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      American ADHD, using short words for everything.

    3. Re:Oh! *intelligence* partners. by dohzer · · Score: 1

      Domestic industrial espionage? Does Intel not have *foreign* partners too?

    4. Re:Oh! *intelligence* partners. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The story even has the Intel icon.

  13. Re:Why are our intel secrets being leaked like thi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    These leaks are really alarming

    Yes. The USA is really becoming a police state isn't it.

    Why has this been happening?

    The USA used to have policies largely supporting freedom and justice worldwide. Many people joined up to the US security forces at that time and still believe in those ideals. Now that they are realising that they are being used for a different, more oppressive, agenda they are partly rebelling and doing what they can to fight for freedom.

    Who is accountable for it?

    Many people. The counter intelligence structures of the US are very complex and probably nobody knows all of it. However you can go on Wikipedia and the US government websites and find a wealth of information from which to begin learning. In the end however, since this is a military and Federal police matter, the ultimate person accountable is the commander in chief and president, Donald Trump.

    Did this occur under Obama's watch (or failure thereof)?

    Yes, though to a lesser extent. Similar things have happened under almost all recent presidents. Obama was very aggressive in pursuing leakers, a thing which surprised many of his more freedom loving supporters. He presided over the effective disruption of the WikiLeaks organisation. This probably reduced the rate of growth of leaking.

  14. Re: Why are our intel secrets being leaked like th by rtb61 · · Score: 1

    How about Intel investors, how do you think they will feel, knowing their asset has been so cavalierly risked because there will be repercussion in the international market. Intel clearly can not be trusted and will commit acts of treason in other countries to serve the corrupt deep state within the US government. Yeah, when you do it in other countries it is far worse, espionage and treason, real repercussions, not to mention the complete destruction of trust. Keep in mind this release of information is being done legally in a foreign country, exposing the criminal activity of the US government, as required by those countries being spied on laws, else those who fail to report it can be charged with a crime, accessory after the fact added to rather serious crimes, espionage and treason. As far as I can tell, according to US government policy, every country so affected should economically sanction the US government, as per US government policy and investigate and prosecute Intel staff involved in those criminal actions.

    --
    Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  15. Re: Why are our intel secrets being leaked like th by execthis · · Score: 1

    This is about US government agencies with whom the CIA partners to provide tech support for biometrics. As I read it, they simply had a kind of backdoor way to collect the data that the partner agencies were supposed to be collecting anyway.

    This is not about the Intel the company, foreign governments, nor about spying on US citizens. :-)

  16. Re: Why are our intel secrets being leaked like th by ewanm89 · · Score: 1

    By Intel partners they mean intelligence partners ;) You know, foreign intelligence agencies, private intelligence agencies, other US intelligence agencies, contractors they use to build their own door biometric authentication systems...

  17. Re:Why are our intel secrets being leaked like thi by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 2

    Wait, when you say "intel secrets" do you mean "intel secrets" or "Intel secrets"? I'm confused.

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  18. Re: Why are our intel secrets being leaked like th by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

    You're damn right these leaks need to stop! I have just the person to do it too, he's known world-wide for his exploits, too! You probably heard of him, his name is Mario!

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  19. Re:Why are our intel secrets being leaked like thi by schleimkeim · · Score: 1

    Who is accountable for it?

    No one. When it comes to espionage there is no prosecution.

  20. Re: Why are our intel secrets being leaked like th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Not clear if joking, trolling or confused.

  21. I am not shocked by cpbright · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I am not shocked. Trusting the government is like trusting the scorpion on your back while swimming across the river.

    1. Re:I am not shocked by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I liked it more when I had the gingerbread man on my back.

    2. Re:I am not shocked by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      not if you require the scorp to wear a condom over his stinger

  22. Fucking clickbait title. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Had to read through the whole damn summary before realizing this was nothing important.
    So the CIA is spying on other spies. Big fucking deal.

  23. Sounds just like... by argStyopa · · Score: 0

    ....Microsoft's update program.

    I guess we know where they learned the technique.

    --
    -Styopa
  24. Oh that depends on the details by DeplorableCodeMonkey · · Score: 2

    Let's say that that partner agency is the FBI and the FBI takes this to mean that the CIA was illegally grabbing domestic data in direct violation of laws governing "US Persons Data" and the FBI's own guidelines (that were referenced in the memorandum of understanding). You better bet that someone in their leadership is at least raising the issue of prosecuting the CIA folks responsible, if for no other reason than "we're the FBI and you don't fucking spy on the FBI without consequences."

    1. Re:Oh that depends on the details by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Double Plus FUNNY!!

  25. Re: Why are our intel secrets being leaked like th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    History History.

    Cisco copped a hit - will Intel be next?
    Backdoored printer drivers and network cards since Diablo daisy wheel printers and HP laserjets. Closed PC hardware interfaces. leaks of drive firmware hacks. German leaders phone listened to. Swiss made encryption gear, optic fiber taps. Skunk still has a stripe. Better to assume the worst, and buy Chinese made kit anyway.

  26. no trust by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Never trust anything or anybody. the whole world is out to fuck you over

  27. In Direct Opposition To Their Founding Mandate by NicknameUnavailable · · Score: 0

    They aren't allowed to conduct any operations on domestic soil.

  28. TSA and Airport Scanners by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, when the baddies find the backdoor, they will be able to get anything through.

    Can't believe the CIA gets its rocks off on xray backscatter porn

  29. Moonlighting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The fact that a lot of CIA employees also work for corporations on the side and/or after their retirement means that this comes as no surprise. Like Snowden revealed to us, most of what the US intelligence agencies do is industrial espionage.

  30. CIA Customer Service, how may we help you? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    there's a hidden kill-switch that lets agents shut down the entire system after a set period of time, requiring an in-person visit to restore the system.

    Sounds like they have taken few hints form your favourite telecom and television companies. Lets hope that Steve from the CIA Customer Service will answer all the customer concerns in a timely polite manner.

  31. Re:Why are our intel secrets being leaked like thi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    HAZULUMD GRUMPH!!

  32. I remember when the Web used to be a fun place.. by Neuronwelder · · Score: 1

    Sigh.. I miss those days!

  33. Re:I remember when the Web used to be a fun place. by hey! · · Score: 1

    Nostalgic, I see.

    I've put a blink tag in this response for you. Slashcode will filter it out and in any case your browser probably doesn't honor it, but you'll know it's there.

    --
    Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
  34. Re:Why are our intel secrets being leaked like thi by execthis · · Score: 1

    "Intel" is short for "intelligence" meaning "intelligence agency" i.e. the CIA or NSA.

  35. Re:Why are our intel secrets being leaked like thi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://www.bubbleblabber.com/w...

  36. more special. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    of all the 3tt3rs only the cia has the "right and means" to turn of light-bulbs. the one sitting ontop of your shoulders, that is ...
    wow, nasty captcha ... "killers"

  37. You lay down with dogs... by JohnFen · · Score: 1

    you get up with fleas.

  38. WHOOSH! [Re:Oh, Intelligence Partners?] by XXongo · · Score: 1

    The parent post was ironic: the headline says "Spying on Intel Partners," but in this case, the word "Intel" is headline-ese for "Intelligence partners"-- it has nothing to do with Intel, the corporation that makes computer chips.

    If you'd read the subject of the comment, that would have been clear.

    Whoosh!

  39. Deeper Yet by JimSadler · · Score: 1

    I believe that any large software company has agents inside it whether they know it or not. I could be wrong but governments seem to feel compelled to get involved in any form of conversation.

    1. Re:Deeper Yet by JohnFen · · Score: 1

      You are correct, and every major software company is very aware of that. Most of them, though, just let it happen.

  40. The world doesn't need spy agencies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is just a scheme to give the Rothschilds police state control of your country along with the central bank. Secret intel doesn't give you anything worthwhile and that's why crowdsourced investigations are making the DNC and Deep State/CIA shit bricks.

  41. Re:Why are our intel secrets being leaked like thi by execthis · · Score: 1

    For an "oppressive agenda" I need look no farther than the unfolding catastrophe around me in my major US city that has been brought about by decades of liberal incompetance and insanity. Seeing human beings decomposing in the streets before my eyes, smelling the feces and urine, while we are invaded by throngs of illegals all while the politicians scream "sanctuary" is evidence enough to me of an "oppressive agenda".

    As for spy agencies - I expect them to spy. That's their job. They probably are way more in touch with how effed up the situation is than most people can even imagine.

  42. Re:Why are our intel secrets being leaked like thi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    For an "oppressive agenda" I need look no farther than the unfolding catastrophe around me in my major US city that has been brought about by decades of liberal incompetance and insanity. Seeing human beings decomposing in the streets before my eyes, smelling the feces and urine, while we are invaded by throngs of illegals all while the politicians scream "sanctuary" is evidence enough to me of an "oppressive agenda".

    Ah. Because the human beings chose to decompose at you. How oppressive of them.

    "Liberals", the inventers of Laissez-faire, have always believed in leaving people alone to their own devices and letting them rot in the streets if that's what it comes to. Your country is run by oligarchs, including Liberal ones like Trump. Until you rebel against the liberals in your Tea Party and GOP (not to mention the Democrats, who are almost as Liberal as your "Conservatives" (note the quotes)) you have no chance of anything changing.

    As for spy agencies - I expect them to spy. That's their job. They probably are way more in touch with how effed up the situation is than most people can even imagine.

    Sure. How about them spying on their enemies instead of their own people and allies? Currently it seems the Russians know more about what goes on in the CIA and the NSA than the US government does.