The hack of an NSA malware staging server is not unprecedented, but the publication of the take is. Here's what you need to know: (1/x)
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6) What's new? NSA malware staging servers getting hacked by a rival is not new. A rival publicly demonstrating they have done so is.
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7) Why did they do it? No one knows, but I suspect this is more diplomacy than intelligence, related to the escalation around the DNC hack.
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8) Circumstantial evidence and conventional wisdom indicates Russian responsibility. Here's why that is significant:
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9) This leak is likely a warning that someone can prove US responsibility for any attacks that originated from this malware server.
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10) That could have significant foreign policy consequences. Particularly if any of those operations targeted US allies.
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11) Particularly if any of those operations targeted elections.
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12) Accordingly, this may be an effort to influence the calculus of decision-makers wondering how sharply to respond to the DNC hacks.
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13) TL;DR: This leak looks like a somebody sending a message that an escalation in the attribution game could get messy fast.
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Bonus: When I came forward, NSA would have migrated offensive operations to new servers as a precaution - it's cheap and easy. So? So...
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The undetected hacker squatting on this NSA server lost access in June 2013. Rare public data point on the positive results of the leak.
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You're welcome,
@NSAGov. Lots of love. - 6 more replies
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thanks daddy
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Edward, you remember CIA Swiss banker op? Real story from fellow Army whistlrblower: http://www.armypsyop.wix.com/scottbennett
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@Snowden HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? YOU WERE JUST A SYSADMINThanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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So, the NSA's hackers are told not to leave those fingerprints, but sometimes they do, anyway. @JanieBlakely
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They get lazy or forgetful like we all do.
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Or cocky. Yeah.
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@Snowden - "But people get lazy." The best system is only as viable as the minimum wage monkey behind the console...#HarshRealityThanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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I prefer to be cautious when evaluating other pros, specially if they are or were my colleagues. Is it fair to say they get lazy?
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