Obama, McCain campaigns' computers hacked for policy data

[sactoking]

Linky

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Computers at the headquarters of the Barack Obama and John McCain campaigns were hacked during the campaign by a foreign entity looking for future policy information, a source with knowledge of the incidents confirms to CNN.
Workers at Barack Obama's headquarters first thought there was a computer virus.

Workers at Barack Obama's headquarters first thought there was a computer virus.

The source said the computers were hacked mid-summer by either a foreign government or organization.

Another source, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation, says federal investigators approached both campaigns with information the U.S. government had about the hacking, and the campaigns then hired private companies to mitigate the problem.

U.S. authorities, according to one of the sources, believe they know who the foreign entity responsible for the hacking is, but refused to identify it in any way, including what country.

The source, confirming the attacks that were first reported by Newsweek, said the sophisticated intrusions appeared aimed at gaining information about the evolution of policy positions in order to gain leverage in future dealings with whomever was elected.

The FBI is investigating, one of the sources confirmed to CNN. The FBI and Secret Service refused comment on the incidents. Video Watch Brian Todd's report on the investigation. »

The sources refused to speak on the record due to the ongoing investigation and also because it is a sensitive matter involving presidential politics.

As described by a Newsweek reporter with special access while working on a post-campaign special, workers in Obama's headquarters first detected what they thought was a computer virus that was trying to obtain users' personal information.

The next day, agents from the FBI and Secret Service came to the office and said, "You have a problem way bigger than what you understand ... you have been compromised, and a serious amount of files have been loaded off your system."
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One of the sources told CNN the hacking into the McCain campaign computers occurred around the same time as the breach into those of Obama's campaign.

So..... blackmail material? Or more innocuous, like 'We believe the logical steps you took to come to your position on Rx Drug imports is flawed'?

 

[techs]

TTIWWTOS

(this thread is worthless without the o.s.)

 

[Blackjack200]

Originally posted by: sactoking
So..... blackmail material? Or more innocuous, like 'We believe the logical steps you took to come to your position on Rx Drug imports is flawed'?

Neither. The more information you have during a negotiation, to stronger your bargaining position is. It's that simple.


Imagine if Saudi Arabia learned that the one of the candidates intended to attack Iraq within 4 months of taking office, and that airbases in Saudi Arabia would be critical to the plan. They could negotiate much better terms for themselves than if they thought the U.S. just wanted the airbases for security. It's called an information imbalance, and it's a massive source of leverage in negotiation.

 

[CanOWorms]

It's pretty obvious that it was most likely a European "ally" or perhaps Israel and that's why they won't divulge the info. If it was China/Russia/bogeyman then they would have said so.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: techs
TTIWWTOS

(this thread is worthless without the o.s.)

No doubt Windows, but it doesn't make much difference. Human beings are the biggest security holes.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
It's pretty obvious that it was most likely a European "ally" or perhaps Israel and that's why they won't divulge the info. If it was China/Russia/bogeyman then they would have said so.

lol of course someone always finds a way to blame the jews.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
It's pretty obvious that it was most likely a European "ally" or perhaps Israel and that's why they won't divulge the info. If it was China/Russia/bogeyman then they would have said so.

lol of course someone always finds a way to blame the jews.

Supposedly he mentions Europe in every post....

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
It's pretty obvious that it was most likely a European "ally" or perhaps Israel and that's why they won't divulge the info. If it was China/Russia/bogeyman then they would have said so.

lol of course someone always finds a way to blame the jews.

Israel is an ally after all. My bet is on the Europeans though.

 

[Thump553]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
It's pretty obvious that it was most likely a European "ally" or perhaps Israel and that's why they won't divulge the info. If it was China/Russia/bogeyman then they would have said so.

lol of course someone always finds a way to blame the jews.

Israel is an ally after all. My bet is on the Europeans though.

Israel has a very long history of spying on the US, and has a very sophisticated computer industry. My second guess would be China, for basically the same reasons. There are lots of reasons not to disclose the identity, especially if it is either one of those two (China, after all, is a huge trading partner and creditor of the US). The rest of the world combined would be a distant third.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: Thump553

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
It's pretty obvious that it was most likely a European "ally" or perhaps Israel and that's why they won't divulge the info. If it was China/Russia/bogeyman then they would have said so.

lol of course someone always finds a way to blame the jews.

Israel is an ally after all. My bet is on the Europeans though.

Israel has a very long history of spying on the US, and has a very sophisticated computer industry. My second guess would be China, for basically the same reasons. There are lots of reasons not to disclose the identity, especially if it is either one of those two (China, after all, is a huge trading partner and creditor of the US). The rest of the world combined would be a distant third.

Electronic warfare from China is not a secret and has been talked about quite often by government officials. I don't see why they would keep it hush-hush if it was the Chinese or Russians.

I think that it's a supposed allied country, not someone like China or Russia.

 

[dsity]

it was actually me. I did it to find nudes of michelle and palin.

will post pics soon.

 

[SirStev0]

I am thinking a European Ally, Russia or Israel.

 

[SirStev0]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
It's pretty obvious that it was most likely a European "ally" or perhaps Israel and that's why they won't divulge the info. If it was China/Russia/bogeyman then they would have said so.

lol of course someone always finds a way to blame the jews.

As much as I hate to jump on that wagon, Israel has been known to pretty much do whatever they want with no consequences.

Even though both our government and theirs refuses to admit they have nukes, it is pretty much assumed they do and that they got the technology from us. The way in which they received it is also highly questionable. I can't think of the scientist's name but there was someone who was actually arrested selling nuclear secrets to Israel spies in the US. There are also some other examples.

Allying with the US and Britain are the only things that keep Israel out of complete conflict with the rest of the Middle East. Not saying they couldn't hold their own and that they haven't proven that they can't just saying that if they didn't have the backing of two such powerful nations they would in a really tight spot. I am sure if pushed they would use nuclear force.

Most Middle Easterners really dislike the creation of the nation of Israel. Unfortunately most of the land there is a desert and there are few places that even count as habitable... Israel has a lot of it. Again, I am not saying that Israel doesn't have a claim, but what we did there was basically the same as the bullshit Eminent Domain garbage we pull on our own citizens.

You'd be pissed too if your house was suddenly over taken because that guy you never really liked was having a REALLY shitty century.

I guess the cliffs would be that I really don't think it is that far of a stretch to think that Israel has the capabilities to do such a hack and would benefit from the information.
And this is not targeted at Jews it is targeted at the Nation of Israel.

 

[gevorg]

Originally posted by: SirStev0
I am thinking a European Ally, Russia or Israel.

or China.