Monday, January 2, 2017

DNC and Clinton Hacking update

So the Department of Homeland Security and FBI released a report on the so called "Russian Hacking". In spite of the report assigning blame to the Russians, there was no actual evidence provided to back the allegation. To be blunt, the technical information provided probably does more to question the allegations than prove them. There were two concrete pieces of information that the report provided. The type of malware used and the range of the IP addresses that the hacks were traced back to.

  • The type of malware is available for download on line. Anyone could download it. Think adobe reader or java. It's really not much different. In fact, the malware used actually has a version number. The malware used for the hacking of the DNC and Clinton campaigns were generic vanilla versions of this malware. It was not even the most current available. 
  • The range of IP addresses are used throughout the world. In fact, it is more likely that that IP address range would come from the United States, than Russia. The most common location for this range of IP would be "unknown" meaning it's used by hackers everywhere. 
All the report provides (in terms of actual evidence) is some proof that it "could" be the Russians. It could also be the guy down the street from you. This was not unique or even sophisticated hacking. I would definitely expect to see more evidence than what has been provided. If this is all they have, then it's woefully short of the sort of proof that should be required to take international action.
_______

As pointed out in the comment threads here (WP)... when a private company get's hacked and sensitive materials are compromised, it's called a security breach and blamed on the company that allowed the breach. Those who's information was compromised are provided compensation and additional protection from the company in question.

When those same people who make these rules aret the ones hacked... they see themselves as the victims. It's not difficult to see how someone who so quickly views themselves as being harmed, would also be quick to toss the blame at a convenient bad guy. 



49 comments:

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

As I figured, you and Donald Trump know more about the Russian hacks than our intelligence establishment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qulGEVxo9jg

Hakalicious Strikes Again

C.H. Truth said...

Roger.

The man who cannot think for himself, continues to believe everything the politicians tell him.

This is up my alley. The evidence so far tracks the malware as developed in the Ukraine. Available on line.

I guess if you are not smart enough to draw your own conclusions, you just believe what you are told.

In other words Roger... you cannot point to any real evidence. You can only site a conclusion.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

Putin wanted Trump to win, because he knows that he can outsmart and out maneuver him.

Trump is giving aid and comfort to an adversary of the United States.

The Logan Act (1 Stat. 613, 18 U.S.C. § 953, enacted January 30, 1799 ) is a United States federal law that forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments having a dispute with the U.S. It was intended to prevent the undermining of the government's position.

He can be accused of Treason, and charged with violation of the Logan Act

I'm also quite well aware of computers and hacking. You are claiming that you not only know more than the intelligence agencies, like the NSA. You should work for them if you are that good at finding malware.

Yet, you just go oh my, he's SO smart..

C.H. Truth said...

Roger... I challenge you to find any independent IT specialist who believes that the homeland security report provides any real evidence of Russian involvement.

Again. I am not saying it wasn't the Russians. Perhaps they will provide more information in the future.

But I am stating a simple fact. That report did not provide any evidence. If that is all they have then it simply isn't proof.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

CH, what you don't seem to understand, is that I can come to my own conclusions. Because I've been involved with my wife's health, so I haven't been watching the news, except to see the stuff on the comment by Trump.

Then last night he said that he was going to repeal Obama care it got a huge cheer. Not ONE OF THOSE at the event were under Obama care because they are wealthy enough to pay for it. Your hero is possibly going to take away health insurance from 20,000,000 Americans. And don't play that BS that it's not twenty million, objective sources, prove the lie you have been touting too.

You ignore his lie a day record.
The two worst ones, were his Birther ie racist crap.
The other was his claim that thousands of Muslims in New Jersey were cheering as the buildings were coming down.

And there is the claim that Clinton wanted to repeal the second amendment. Yet you think this pathological liar is capable of understanding hacking but you believe him.

You are sinking into the depth of self deception. Not me.

C.H. Truth said...

Roger- read this link straight through. These guys are preeminent experts in software hacking.


They state the same thing I do, only with much more detail.

https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2017/01/election-hack-faq/#proof

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

CrowdStrike has been sited by multiple sources. I don't have an account, and don't want one, but they are independent, and have stated in the NY Time and Wa Po that they have evidence that it did originate in Russian and you know damn well nothing like that would happen without "SO smart" Putin.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

Your blog knows more than the CIA, NSA and the rest of the America intelligence services. I read the comment. Have you thought it through?

The Russians are smart enough to make it look like they have deniability.

Putin is so smart and Trump knows more than anyone else.

Good God.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

But right now I have a lot bigger problem. Kaiser does not want to send Lydia to UCLA, for work on the trach and voice prosthesis. We are gong to raise hell, because Kaiser doesn't know shit about her specific issues

Anonymous said...


the boys at powerline also did an excellent job at unpacking this:

"This is how we determined that the FBI/DHS report contains an old malware sample that is publicly available and the hacker group that distributes it appears to be Ukrainian."

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2017/01/evidence-for-russian-involvement-in-dnc-hack-is-nonexistent.php



"When those same people who make these rules aret the ones hacked... they see themselves as the victims."

typical of the left since time immemorial. when a leftist fucks up, it's always someone else's fault, they're never to blame, and there are never any consequences for the failure.


nice post CH. if i had to bet, i'd say the "hacker" is a leftist with an axe to grind against the DNC/clinton machine, with a modicum of IT talent and sophistication, and the person(s) who did this are probably bernie backers upset at being conned.

for chrissakes, the WaPo went apeshit over the "russian hacking" of the vermont electrical grid until we learned that the laptop involved was an isolated device probably infected with malware from some crummy porn site. so yeah, taking our government's or the media's word on this topic is a fool's errand.

let roger flail around on this topic like the goddamned fool he's proven himself to be. he's in election meltdown mode and we've got at least four more years of this amusement (or until his liver fails - whichever comes first) so really, he's just getting started.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

I'm up early. ButI will be spending the day with my wife. We are dealing with some very serious problems. So for the most part, you won't have me to provide some Coldheartedtruth.

Those who have been discounting the American intelligence services, don't consider, that they have probably have secret means of penetration into the Russian computer systems. They are not going to reveal how much they can do.

If the President elect had regular briefings, he would be told about this issue. But he doesn't take those briefings. So, as usual, he tweets ignorant and foolish posts. He was too busy hosting $500.00 per person parties.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

The Russians are smart enough to conceal their methods. In your pathetic attempts to protect Trump, you haven't considered that the Russians would cover their tracks.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

Maybe it's just me, but I really don't think that the American intelligence agencies are going to do what our esteemed host claims.

" It's not difficult to see how someone who so quickly views themselves as being harmed, would also be quick to toss the blame at a convenient bad guy. "

He is accusing the FBI, NSA, and others, of tossing out the blame, without using sophisticated analysis and very likely, methods we are never going to see.

KD, Greatest breaches happened under Obama, you know that , right? said...

So When Obama openly attacked and threatened the UK, IF they leave the EU in the Brexit big WIN, you are ok with that and when we hack around the world , you are ok with that too, just wondering.

For you wife and your insurance, sorry, but , my Doctor and I make medical decisions, not my insurance company, they do as they are told by my Doctor and any specialist she refers me and my family members to... however I have a Cadillac Plan thru UnitedHealth.

The point of Obama's ordered investigation was to lay bare to the US Voters what the Russians did and who, now it is only to blame and give no evidence, that is not an investigation that is snowdenJob.

KD, Price of Straw Soars as Obama blames Russians straw man said...

The Russians are smart enough to conceal their methods. In your pathetic attempts to protect Trump, you haven't considered that the Russians would cover their tracks." The Mutt


So the Russians/Putin are smart, smarter then our guys IF our guys can't uncover the methods used, IF it was the Russians.

To the bigger point, no one here changed their vote based upon the Clinton Campaign's emails and the DNC emails.

So who exactly changed their vote based upon those authentic emails?

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

My lovely wife is a registered nurse. She is very good at working around the system, she worked as a patient advocate. We are forcing the system. Kaiser Permanente doesn't like to use outside consultants. But she has contacts in UCLA, the people who did her prosthetic voice thirty years ago. She emailed her contract, and we are forcing the issue.

On topic, the Obama administration isn't using the intelligence agencies for political reasons. If they were, there would be a "deep throat" would be exposing what you claim, based on nothing more than what Daisy your milk cow and lover told you. Moo moo moo.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

The tea party movement is protecting themselves.

Just hours before the 115th Congress gavels in, House Republicans voted to weaken the independent ethics office that investigates House lawmakers and staff accused of misconduct.

During a closed-door meeting Monday, by a vote of 119 to 74, House Republicans defied their leadership to adopt an amendment by Rep Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., to place the Office of Congressional Ethics, known as OCE, under the jurisdiction of the House Ethics Committee.

The move effectively gives the ethics oversight and investigative role to the lawmakers themselves and prevents information about investigations from being released to the public.

Play House GOP moves to end ethics oversight Facebook Twitter Google Plus Embed
House GOP moves to end ethics oversight 8:18
Goodlatte's office said the amendment was intended to increase protection of due process rights for House representatives of staffers under investigation and grant them more access to basic "evidentiary standards."

The amendment bars the office, which would be renamed the Office of Congressional Complaint Review, from considering anonymous complaints and complaints about activity from before 2010.

House Speaker Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy both spoke out at the closed-door meeting against adopting the amendment, according to one source who was in the meeting.

"The OCE has a serious and important role in the House, and this amendment does nothing to impede their work," Goodlatte said in a statement defending the move.

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-gop-votes-move-ethics-oversight-under-its-own-control-n702471

KD, Trump Winning over CA said...

Trump-mania: California Consumer Confidence Hits 9-Year High


The Conference Board, which measures consumer confidence, reports that consumers in the Golden State are more confident that they have been since 2007...... "

Love it.

KD, said...

My Doctor is very good at working with my top tier plan and with United Health,,, both work for me.

Never have had a problem and we have had some major medical issues over all my years with them.

KD, Trump WON BIG, SO BIG said...

Oh Mutt, why so ugly, you have no proof , Obama's report to the Voter so far is nothing, IF he had proof, he should do a National Address lay out his case to the US Voter.

Funny how some in the 97 % that do not produce any food or meat are the first to claim how much they know about both.

KD, 21 Trillion in National Debt, now budgets matter , no way, spend said...

So who exactly changed their vote based upon those authentic emails?"

"crickets"


We know that Bernie Sanders still voted for Hillary Clinton.


Rosie O'Donald should have a meeting with the Secret Service today after threatening the President Elect , she stated "less then three weeks to STOP Trump from becoming President".

Given that Hillary was defeated at the polls where real people voted and Trump won, Given Hillary/Stien Lost the many recounts, losing more voters was too cool. Given Hillary and others pushing for a revolt by Electors from Trump,,, what really happened in the real world, more Faithlessness happened to Hillary, it was the most ever.

C.H. Truth said...

Roger - Crowdstrike was hired by the DNC... not exactly an independent source. I asked for an "Independent" source.

Secondly, Crowdstrike suggests (as do other IT firms), that the malware is Ukrainian, not Russian. Ukraine is a whole different country and would not fall under Putin control. I wonder out loud, how many people don't see that distinction.

Lastly, to prove it's the Russians, is a matter of eliminating all other possibilities. When one firm (hired by the DNC to confirm their beliefs) states that they believe it's the Russians, while pretty much every other IT source declares that it could be almost anyone... then there is no proof (only a limited amount of opinion) that it actually is the Russians.

C.H. Truth said...

Roger just cannot get away from what the politicians tell him. The only IT source he can muster is the one hired by the DNC to confirm their suspicions. If it doesn't come from a Democratic politician (or someone hired by them), it must be a lie.

I had a conversation with a hockey friend who does network and security for a living. Owns his own company. He said that he has done no research on this, nor does he have to. He says anyone telling you that they can tell where a hack like this comes from is simply lying to you. No way that any form of sophisticated hacker will leave a trace back to them.

KD, Wealth is Power said...

CHT, unlike Roger I do not know that much about networks, hacking and electronic investigations, so I read and defer to your wealth of knowledge.

I find it odd , ole HB is quick to condemn police officers because he is told to and quick to support the black operations of the CIA/NSA and other Government agencies.

Does he do it purely on political grounds?

I do know this, no one on this blog changed their vote because of the Released Authentic DnC Emails and the Hillary Campaign,,,

Yet, we are to believe that the great unwashed changed their vote ONLY ONE WAY from Hillary Clinton and the Dem party and to Trump and the Republican party, that is really a Yuge stretch .


Looking at how HB and his bride are pushed around by the very people that are suppose to work for them. I have never had a single employee or hired service tell me what I can and can not have. If that were to happen then I would simply fire their asses and take my money else where, other then the Government, no one is a sole provider of a single good or service.

HB is being pushed about, no back bone and little money .

opie said...

I had a conversation with a hockey friend who does network and security for a living

Another impeccable CH source, a hockey player. Dayum, he probably also thinks GW is fake because the models are wrong because his lake is frozen. LOL

Anonymous said...

Blogger C.H. Truth said...
Roger just cannot get away from what the politicians tell him.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

that's because he's simply not honest.

the 'russians hacked the election' is a false narrative. flatly and demonstrably false. but it's all the left has to explain away the fact that their anointed candidate, the one whose 'landslide victory' was a foregone conclusion, lost. and by a lot. what the russians MIGHT have done is phished john podesta. that's not hacking the election. that's hacking... and fooling... a hack.

this is how the left licks their wounds after a defeat. they seek every explanation under the sun, no matter how false or absurd, to explain away their defeat. and it's fueled by invincible ignorance. a force to be reckoned with when one tries to reason with a liberal.

you put up a good post. but trying to reason with person bitterly clinging to every explanation other than the truth is a galactic waste of time.

C.H. Truth said...

Another impeccable CH source, a hockey player

Um... no a professional IT expert who works with networking and internet security... who I happen to know because our sons play on the same hockey team.

So, yes... I would deem someone who protects networks and companies from security hacking as a reliable source for a question on hacking.

Anonymous said...



oh, and on that breathless WaPo report about the russians hacking the vermont elec. grid?

it was an employee connecting to a flagged IP addy:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/russian-government-hackers-do-not-appear-to-have-targeted-vermont-utility-say-people-close-to-investigation/2017/01/02/70c25956-d12c-11e6-945a-76f69a399dd5_story.html?utm_term=.5ac7e576254d



WaPo spokesperson emily litella said 'never mind!'



if this is a preview of how the media is going to conduct themselves during the course of the trump administration, it's going to provide a laugh a minute.




Anonymous said...

On topic, the Obama administration isn't using the intelligence agencies for political reasons.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

in the real world, the 0linsky regime used EVERY government agency at its disposal, intelligence and otherwise, for political purposes.

"If they were, there would be a "deep throat" would be exposing what you claim"

since they are all complicit and on the same political team, who would act as the informant?

government employees are like the media. overwhelmingly liberal. and if you could find a right leaning government employee willing to blow the whistle, someone from 0linsky's praetorian guard media would have to be willing to run with the story.

nixon's biggest mistake was always that he was a republican. woodward and bernstein never would have touched him had he had a "D" after his name.



Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

For once I'm pleasantly surprised.

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump on Tuesday criticized House Republicans for their surprise move to gut an independent congressional ethics office on the eve of a new legislative session, saying they should focus instead on domestic policy priorities such as health care and a tax overhaul.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

Hockey experts.

Just because the it is from the Ukraine, it doesn't rule out the possibility that the Russians launched the attack.

Nice try, but the Coldheartedtruth is out to get you.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

For once I'm pleasantly surprised.

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump on Tuesday criticized House Republicans for their surprise move to gut an independent congressional ethics office on the eve of a new legislative session, saying they should focus instead on domestic policy priorities such as health care and a tax overhaul.

C.H. Truth said...

Just because the it is from the Ukraine, it doesn't rule out the possibility that the Russians launched the attack.

Nope you are correct... just because the malware was developed in the Ukraine, doesn't rule out the possibility that the Russians or anyone could have used it.

But the burden of proof here, Roger... is on the Administration and DNC to "prove" that it could ONLY have been the Russians. It seems, however, that their burden of proof in this case is to say that the Russians "could have done it" and declare that to be enough to sanction them.

It's no wonder that Putin and most of the globe is laughing at us.

Anonymous said...




"Putin wanted Hillary to lose the election because he was sick and tired of the Democrats letting him do whatever he wanted."

—Twitter satirist @weknowwhatsbest

Anonymous said...

But the burden of proof here, Roger... is on the Administration and DNC to "prove" that it could ONLY have been the Russians. It seems, however, that their burden of proof in this case is to say that the Russians "could have done it" and declare that to be enough to sanction them.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


"There is nothing in the IP data that points to Russia specifically.”

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2017/01/02/tech-company-casts-doubt-on-dhsfbi-russian-hacking-report/#ixzz4Uid5di7g



it's almost cute, almost, to watch these asshats on the left cling to their demonstrably false narratives.

i suppose you can't blame them. liberals never admit when they're wrong, and with 99.8% of the MSM carrying your water how can you blame them?



opie said...

Um... no a professional IT expert who works with networking

Which you prefaced as a hockey buddy. Does that add credence to his field of expertise? No. Does you saying that he is an expert in IT mean anything to me. Nope. Let's try this CH, I drink beer with the MIC ( meteorologist in charge) of the MLB nws and he firmly believes the global models on warming are accurate with what is going on. I'm sure that will make a JUGE difference in you believing what is going on, just like I give a crap what your hockey buddy has to say. Thanx for trying though, it is always amusing watching your spin. LOL

Commonsense said...

Gee Opie maybe you should learn to read instead of blaming the writer for writing above your reading level.

KD, Clinton force to release more Emails said...

CS, Opium would need it to go like this, see opie eat pie, eat opie , eat.

C.H. Truth said...

Global Warming... Yawn... I have a sneaking suspicion that we will be hearing less and less about that over the next few years. That being said, there are opinions on both sides of that argument, and ultimately the science is "unsettled".

I recommend you read this article:

http://blog.dilbert.com/post/155121836641/the-illusion-of-knowledge

I must confess that I thought of you when I read this portion:

Non-scientists don’t have the tools to form a useful opinion on climate science. What we usually do instead is look at one side of the debate, ignore the other side, and use confirmation bias to harden our illusion of certainty. That’s how normal brains work. So if you are both normal and you have a strong opinion about climate science, I can say with confidence that you are hallucinating about your certainty.

Hallucinating about your certainty. Perfect.

C.H. Truth said...

However, in the case of the Russian Hacking. The evidence provided so far from the Government does not provide any proof of any Russian hacking at all. It only provides proof that there was a hack, that a specific malware was used from a specific range of IP addresses, and that it's possible it was the Russians. Of course that same evidence shows that it's just as possible it was not the Russians.

At the end of the day, this is a blatant form of anti-Russian propaganda. Only the weak minded (looking for a comforting excuse for their election disaster) would fall for it.

opie said...

C.H. Truth said...
Global Warming... Yawn... I have a sneaking suspicion that we will be hearing less and less about that over the next few years.

I suspect you are full of yourself and your hockey buddy. Me thinks that data the CIA has is pretty telling and they just can't release it because it will disclose what we are doing. Being the security expert you are when it comes to classified data in e-mails, you should understand, but don't. Funny beyond my wildest dreams, CH. Lets reveal our intel to make you happy. Keep wishing and saying it is false, someday Miami will be underwater, but why should you care. LOL. BTW, 2016 will be third record warm in a row. Something that you will dispute as false.

opie said...

I must confess that I thought of you when I read this portion:

Non-scientists don’t have the tools to form a useful opinion on climate science

I must confess, that applies to you also. Great find proving nothing other than you spinning like I predicted.

wphamilton said...

The report by CrowdStrike (hired by the DNC) is speculative attribution. If the CIA or other intelligence services have detailed specific evidence of Russian State involvement, we cannot evaluate it until they release it. So far there is nothing definitive.

In the past I have been a consulting network engineer, installing secure enterprise systems in a number of banks among other things. I have been in charge of small corporate data centers. In that capacity I once identified almost a dozen security holes during an international merger (that caused a stir, almost got fired over it LOL) All of this has given me the knowledge to understand that I am not a network security expert - they can be in a whole other league and it's not so easy. You don't just fire up magic software and get the attacker's shoe size like in the movies. Who and how is not always clear.

Which is a long way of saying that I don't think we're going to see any hard evidence, unless and until it's been tracked down to specific, identified individuals. Sure there could be Russian involvement. It could be North Koreans or Iranians acting like Russians. We don't know until the spy agencies do their thing, and we should avoid conclusions either way without more concrete information.

opie said...

Great post WP....having worked on classified programs in secure vaults to prevent leakage of data, including electronic transmissions, the methods even in the corporate world are more complicated than our esteemed host gives it credit for. As you said, hard evidence will not be forthcoming since that would reveal too much of our ability. Seems to me, the truth is, only a few really know how we do it and that will remain behind closed doors for a long time. But our esteemed will not care. But remember, cruz's dad was associated with the kennedy assassination, obama was born in kenya, and GW is a chinese conspiracy. Oh well, since when do facts matter when stuff like that is floating around and still believed.

C.H. Truth said...

Well Opie...

WP agrees with me. It "could" be the Russians. But it "could" be someone else. The evidence that they presented (so far) does not prove what they claim that it does.

He also agrees that there is probably not any additional evidence coming... although I would go one step further in suggesting that there probably isn't any more "spy work" going on either. I think they already have done what they are going to do, and that the report was likely the main gist of what they have.

The overlying issue here is that we sanctioned another nation without providing anyone any evidence that they are to blame. We didn't provide it to them, we didn't provide it to the international community, and most importantly, we didn't provide it to the American public.

They provided us with a theory.

C.H. Truth said...

I must confess, that applies to you also.

except, unlike you... I don't generally believe one side is right and the other side it wrong. I simply believe that the models are speculative, unproven, and ultimately the science is "unsettled".

They could be right (just like it could be the Russians). They could be wrong (it might not be the Russians). Either way, we do not know enough at this point to make anything more than an educated guess.

Unlike you, I am not eager to swallow the propaganda.

opie said...

.. I don't generally believe one side is right and the other side it

Nah...you just think the models are all wrong which negates the science behind GW. My beer drinking MIC friend thinks your position is full of it. But why should I care since we are both just opining without knowledge especially as propaganda, as you posted. No hope for you, CH.

C.H. Truth said...

Opie...

You cannot even understand my position... even when it is spelled out for you in plain English. If you were half as smart as you suggest, you would at least be able to grasp my position, rather than obtusely miss the point (every single time).

If you are not smart enough to figure that out... then it's impossible for someone with that that limited of mental capacity to understand global warming models.

opie said...


You cannot even understand my position.

LOL...You don't know what your position is either. If you had half a brain, which you don't, your hockey player is just as good as a source as a meteorologist who studies GW. And I'm sure you understand the models LOLOL> You cannot even name the ones that are wrong or how they are wrong and only offer an opinion that they are wrong. Truly laughable, but everything you say is really laughable since you have already determined it to be a hoax and propaganda. LOL. you are a running joke.