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WikiLeaks CIA cache: Fool me once
This week's poorly conceived distraction from Trump and Putin sittin' in a tree was brought to us by WikiLeaks, which dumped 8,761 documents of the CIA's hacking arsenal online for all to see. The leak factory didn't even bother trying to play coy -- it actually made the "Vault 7" password an anti-CIA JFK quote about destroying the agency. Hilarity ensued. Well, if you think it's funny when the press parrots WikiLeaks' misleading claims wrapped in PR spin.
The Engadget Podcast Ep 31: Look Inside America
On this episode a trio of out-of-towners -- managing editor James Trew, senior editor Aaron Souppouris and senior editor Mat Smith -- join host Terrence O'Brien to talk about the latest tech news. First they'll discuss Consumer Reports decision to start considering security and privacy in their ratings. Then try to figure out just what the hell the New York Times is thinking by putting tweets in the print edition of the paper. Then lastly they'll talk about the latest out of Wikileaks and yell a whole lot about what a terrible person Julian Assange is.
'Many' Android exploits in WikiLeaks CIA files are already fixed
Apple isn't the only company scrambling to reassure the public that it has fixed most of the CIA exploits revealed in WikiLeaks' latest disclosure. Google tells CNET it's "confident" that security patches and safeguards already protect you against "many" of the exploits in both Android and the Chrome web browser. The internet giant will also "implement any further necessary protections" for flaws that have yet to be patched.
WikiLeaks offers to work with tech firms to fix CIA exploits
Founder Julian Assange says that WikiLeaks will offer tech companies access to CIA's leaked hacking techniques and code. During a news conference held at The Embassy of Ecuador in London on Thursday, he said that it would allow firms time to "develop fixes" before further details about the techniques are revealed to the public. Assange said the CIA tools could be used to tap into servers, smartphones and even your TV.
CIA responds to WikiLeaks with an extra long 'no comment'
A day after a WikiLeaks post claimed to reveal inside details of the CIA's hacking apparatus, the agency has responded with a "no comment" and then some. In a statement, the folks at Langley said: "We have no comment on the authenticity of purported intelligence documents released by WikiLeaks or on the status of any investigation into the source of the documents."
Apple says it's already patched 'many' Wikileaks iOS exploits
Less than 24 hours ago, Wikileaks published a large cache of documents detailing top secret CIA operations conducted by its Center for Cyber Intelligence. Included in the 8,761 documents and files, referred to was Vault 7, are references to zero-day exploits that were reportedly being used to track and control iPhones but also Android phones and Samsung smart TVs. While the authenticity of some of Wikileaks' claims are still in question, Apple has confirmed that some of the threats towards its mobile operating system are very real. In a move to reassure customers, the company issued a statement noting that it has already taken steps to patch "many" of the 14 iOS vulnerabilities listed and is working to "rapidly address" the rest.
WikiLeaks claims to have the CIA's hacking toolkit (updated)
WikiLeaks just ignited another powder keg. Julian Assange's outfit has posted the first of a string of CIA leaks, nicknamed Vault 7, that purports to reveal the agency's "entire hacking capacity." The information is said to have escaped an "isolated" secure network at the CIA's Center for Cyber Intelligence in Virginia, and indicates that the organization has far-reaching abilities to snoop on modern technology... including encrypted apps that are supposed to be tough to crack.
Julian Assange 'happy' about the rise of fake news
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is taking time out from hiding in the Ecuadorian embassy in London to sing the praises of fake news. He appeared via satellite at a Q&A in Sydney, Australia this weekend, where he defended his organization and painted the traditional press as "opportunistic snipers" who publish "weaponized text."
Julian Assange says he's willing to return to the US
Infamous Wikileaks founder Julian Assange had previously said he would return to the US to face trial if the US granted clemency to Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of violating the Espionage Act after leaking a massive amount of classified government information, including 250,000 diplomatic cables. Earlier this week, President Obama commuted the vast majority of Manning's remaining sentence; she's now set to be released this May. Since then, the question has been asked if Assange would stick to his word -- and today, he said he might actually do it.
President Obama commutes most of Chelsea Manning's sentence
President Barack Obama on Tuesday commuted the majority of Chelsea Manning's remaining prison sentence, and she is now scheduled to be released on May 17th, 2017, rather than in 2045. Manning is the former army intelligence analyst who provided hundreds of thousands of classified military files to Wikileaks in 2010, including a video of a US helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed two Reuters journalists. The video and accompanying data catapulted Wikileaks and its founder, Julian Assange, into the limelight.
Wikileaks considers exposing verified Twitter users' data (Updated)
WikiLeaks once claimed to stand for the people against the shadowy, truth-occluding governments of the world (primarily, the United States). But the last couple years saw the organization swerve into questionable territory as an Associated Press report revealed that its mass disclosures had included personal information on hundreds of innocent people, including two teenage rape victims and a gay man living in the homosexuality-intolerant Saudi Arabia. Today, Wikileaks' Task Force sister organization tweeted that it is considering revealing the personal, financial and occupational information of every "verified" Twitter account.
US intelligence releases report linking Russia to election hacks
As promised, the US intelligence community has released the public version of its report connecting the Russian government to election-oriented hacks... and it isn't pulling any punches. The findings directly accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering an "influence campaign" to destabilize the American vote, with hacks as a major component. The authoritarian leader wanted to both "undermine public faith" in the democratic process and "denigrate" Hillary Clinton to make sure that Russia's preferred candidate, Donald Trump, took office. Many of the unclassified details will seem familiar, but the US notes that its conclusions are drawn from both intelligence collected by the CIA, FBI and NSA as well as knowledge about both the Kremlin and the organizations it props up.
The looming specter of cyberwar with Russia
In the world of cyber (as in security), the question of the week seems to be, "Are we going to cyberwar with Russia?" White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest thinks so. A week after President Obama singled out Russia as being responsible for cyberattacks on targets including the Democratic National Committee, Earnest said in a briefing that the administration would be serving a "proportional" response to Putin and the gang.
The Engadget Podcast Ep 11: Everybody Hurts
Managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Mona Lalwani join host Terrence O'Brien to talk Macbook rumors, Amazon ISP ambitions and Julian Assange. Then they'll talk about all the work that went into Engadget's five part series covering the world's first cyborg games, Superhumans and look at VR's ability generate empathy.
WikiLeaks dump reveals Obama's personal email address
Hacked files published by WikiLeaks reveal that Barack Obama's personal email address in 2008, just before he secured the US presidency, was bobama@ameritech.net. The information comes via emails stolen from Hillary Clinton campaign chief John Podesta and published on WikiLeaks, CNBC reports. Messages to and from Obama's personal email account largely focus on planning his new administration (yes, before he actually won the election).
Ecuador confirms it cut Assange's internet for US election interference
Last night Wikileaks confirmed Ecuador -- whose London embassy its founder has been holed up in since June 2012 -- was responsible for cutting off Julian Assange's internet access. Now the Ecuadorean government has explained why it changed the WiFi password, claiming it's due to Wikileaks releasing documents meant to interfere with the US presidential election. Specifically, its statement says "The Government of Ecuador respects the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states." As such, it has "exercised its sovereign right to temporarily restrict access to some of its private communications network."
WikiLeaks claims a 'state party' cut Julian Assange's internet (updated)
If you believe WikiLeaks, someone is trying to silence founder Julian Assange. The truth-through-disclosure group is claiming that a "state party" has cut Assange's internet access at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. It isn't naming the culprit at this stage, but does say that it has "activated the appropriate contingency plans." In other words, Assange might not be completely isolated -- however, he probably won't be communicating quite so freely in the foreseeable future.
4Chan may have wiped Clinton campaign chief's iPhone
Hillary Clinton's campaign chief, John Podesta, might be having a particularly lousy week. In the wake of WikiLeaks dumps revealing Podesta's email and the sensitive account details inside, intruders (apparently from 4Chan's /pol board) claim to have hijacked his iCloud account and wiped his iOS devices. They may have been the ones who briefly compromised his Twitter account, too. Podesta's social account is back in running order, but it's not certain what happened to his iPhone and iPad.
Julian Assange: I'll turn myself in if Chelsea Manning walks
America's most wanted hackers apparently think they've got some leverage over the US government. The ACLU last week began petitioning the Obama administration for a full pardon for Edward Snowden and, on Thursday, Julian Assange announced that he would willingly hand himself over to US authorities. But that's if, and only if, the Feds drop their court-martial conviction of Chelsea Manning.
WikiLeaks revealed private info for 'hundreds' of innocents
WikiLeaks will tell you that it's providing valuable transparency while respecting the privacy of innocent people, but the Associated Press isn't convinced that it's walking that fine line. It just published a report showing that Julian Assange and crew published sensitive details for "hundreds" of innocent people, including financial records, identity details and medical files. Among the examples, it identified teen rape victims. Many of last year's leaked Saudi Arabia cables exposed details that could potentially ruin lives in the conservative country, such as the name of a man arrested for being gay and people who've secretly gone into debt.
