Breaking News -- The CIA is prepping a possible cyber strike against Russia

[RKP5637]

Source: NBC

The Obama administration is contemplating an unprecedented cyber covert action against Russia in retaliation for alleged Russian interference in the American presidential election, U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News.

Current and former officials with direct knowledge of the situation say the CIA has been asked to deliver options to the White House for a wide-ranging "clandestine" cyber operation designed to harass and "embarrass" the Kremlin leadership.

The sources did not elaborate on the exact measures the CIA was considering, but said the agency had already begun opening cyber doors, selecting targets and making other preparations for an operation. Former intelligence officers told NBC News that the agency had gathered reams of documents that could expose unsavory tactics by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Vice President Joe Biden told "Meet the Press" moderator Chuck Todd on Friday that "we're sending a message" to Putin and that "it will be at the time of our choosing, and under the circumstances that will have the greatest impact."

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cia-prepping-possible-cyber-strike-against-russia-n666636?cid=eml_nbn_20161014

[elleng]

1. "we're sending a message" to Putin

and that "it will be at the time of our choosing, and under the circumstances that will have the greatest impact."

[RKP5637]

6. Weren't there some articles at one time that Russian subs had been hanging around the

transoceanic cables, something like that. I guess a lot goes by satellite now, but the supposition was they might disrupt communications. I don't have links, etc., but it seems I heard something like this about a year or so ago.

[jberryhill]

18. They cut a cable to Syria

[RKP5637]

19. Ahhh, yes, that's what it was. Thanks!!! n/t

[jberryhill]

21. There had been some unexplained cable cuts going back a while

[Hekate]

39. They cut a cable in the Mediterranean too

Charming people

[Hassin Bin Sober]

44. They're not as slick as us. Why cut when you can tap?

[Hekate]

45. Power play, by literally cutting power and communications.

It was a demo: see what we can do? It hit quite a large region at the time.

[JonLP24]

2. This is why they have been blaming hacks on them

So they could do something like this. Anonymity is very difficult to uncover if done by pros but I'm curious they not only know who but also the motive.

In the early 2000s there was a DoD hack which the Bush administration blamed Iraq for but the FBI determined it was an Isreali.

I don't trust anything when it comes to what intelligence says especially publicly.

[geek tragedy]

4. Or, they blamed the Russians because the Russians did it.

Unthinkable in some circles apparently.

[JonLP24]

7. How do we know that though?

What is the evidence. At any rate, I hope the FBI finds out who.

[geek tragedy]

9. Here's a start

http://arstechnica.com/security/2016/06/guccifer-leak-of-dnc-trump-research-has-a-russians-fingerprints-on-it/

[emulatorloo]

37. Get real and drop the evil US conspiracy theories. Putin's a duplicitous ass who jails gay people,

silences reporters etc.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512510293

At some point you are gonna look back and be upset with yourself for acting like A Putin apologist today.

[RKP5637]

53. Putin, is a sociopathic dictator, cloth of the KGB. He's a despicable human being. n/t

[MADem]

15. I'm on that team--not that China doesn't do it, too, but the Russians have

been very obviously busy of late.

I have no doubt the Chinese cooperated in spiriting Snowden, who I believe to be a Putin asset since he worked in Japan, from Hong Kong to Moscow.

[joshcryer]

46. Aww, poor Russia.

I weep for the Russian oligarchs and the shit that is about to get seriously ripped apart and destroyed.

It's only a shame that Putin moved all government activities back to paper a few years ago.

[lonestarnot]

3. Should be interesting.

[Gore1FL]

5. I guess it's not all that covert.

I heard about it on the internet.

[RKP5637]

8. Yeah, worldwide broadcast. Yep, not very covert but the timing, etc. n/t

[Gore1FL]

10. Don't get me wrong. I welcome it.

I doubt they will see the actual attempt coming.

But it's weird to announce it in advance.

[Chemisse]

47. Perhaps part of the strategy is to send shivers up Russia's spine

Like with terrorism - the power is not in the acts themselves, but in the fear they evoke.

There is likely a political motive as well.

[MADem]

16. The way you get people to show you their assets is to light 'em up.

If you can, for example, persuade a submarine to start looking for you, you have an easy time finding THEM.

[RKP5637]

23. Yep!!!! I think that's the angle to it all ... mentioning it. n/t

[woolldog]

56. Are you a fan of

The Hunt for the Red October?

[MADem]

60. Actually, I knew the USN people who did the tech support on that film.

The reason there is a fair amount of accuracy in terms of tech is because USN cooperated in the making of it. They provided subs, lead actor training (how to be a submariner and how to give a direct order), helped with the sets, made sure uniforms were correct, a few exterior shots of both subs and surface vessels, etc. They even used Navy sailors (who took leave to participate) as extras.

The first time I ever saw a real "Hollywood script" was for that film! I would have loved to have had a piece of that project. I saw the film in Europe; it was quite the hit.

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. Operation being run by Harvey Manfrenjensenden

[6000eliot]

13. I hate that this news makes me root for the CIA.

[riderinthestorm]

24. Yeah, poke the bear. That'll end well. nt

[MADem]

31. Beats shooting at them.

Cyberwarfare IS warfare--make no mistake.

It just involves less blood and gore, which is fine with me.

[Hekate]

34. Yeah, roll over and show the bear your belly. That'll end well, too

[warrprayer]

25. Let 'em have it

I stand behind President Obama and our intelligence community.

[RKP5637]

27. Well that's giving them the finger!

[warrprayer]

33. I have another finger

To give them too!

[RKP5637]

48. ...

[vercetti2021]

28. Good

Attack Trump's little puppet master. Cold war turned into cyber war.

[4lbs]

29. Nice. It'll mean that all those malware, adware, and ransomware sites hosted in Russia will go

offline.

I'm ok with that.

[McKim]

30. Hostilities are Being Ramped Up

Hostilities are being ramped up. It sounds like 1956 when Russia is our new enemy. Gotta have an enemy. Gotta keep the war bucks rolling.

[Hekate]

38. So you think there is nothing in this? That KGB Vlad isn't messing with our electoral process?

You think good old Vladimir didn't invade and take Crimea? That he's not fighting to take the eastern Ukraine?

Hmmmmmm.

[relayerbob]

32. Psy-ops

Don't have to get into their computers to get into their brains

[Midnight Writer]

35. Unfortunately, the US is more vulnerable to cyberattacks than Russia

More of our systems are computerized and online, including our utilities, our communications, our defense systems.

Russia has a more "primitive" infrastructure that is manually controlled and therefore "unhackable".

Even their intelligence agencies use the old "pen and paper" system and deliver their sensitive classified materials by hand to specific "need to know" people.

We may very well become the victims of our own advanced technology.

[RKP5637]

54. Same thoughts here. IMO we are probably cyber-fragile with all of the online inter-connectivity. n/t

[Hekate]

36. Opening move: psy-ops to get into their heads, announced by Joe Biden. I'm glad for this.

Vladimir the old KGB guy is trying to bring back the Cold War. He's messing with our electoral process.

There are times we need the CIA. Putin can go to Hell.

[C Moon]

40. And when their next election comes up, we can elect Bullwinkle and Rocky.

[Helen Borg]

41. So, we know because they want them to know. Right?

Surely, they would not talk about a strike if it was meant to be some kind of surprise.

[Retired George]

42. Good

Turn out the lights in Moscow for 12 hours!

[MowCowWhoHow III]

43. It's all fun & games until you're sat without power & an empty bank account

[Elmergantry]

49. YaY! Lets start a war!

With a nuclear power! That'll teach 'em /s

[RKP5637]

52. Some are probably examining their portfolios and adjusting them for big profits.

Disgusting!

[allan01]

50. and we are at defcon 3 , thanks to this mess.

[MADem]

61. Gee, funny that CNN didn't see fit to mention it.

That story has been making the rounds since last June. No mainstream outlet is covering it, just a few flaky "some people say" outlets.

Amazing we only hit DEFCON 4 right after the twin towers were hit...but whatever.



http://www.snopes.com/defcon-warning-level-escalated-to-3/

[jzodda]

51. Here come the mass DOS (denial of service) attacks

Flood em.....Bring them all down......

[Gothmog]

55. I hope that President Obama gives the green light to this effort

[Rex]

57. Because the CIA always goes around mentioning what they plan to do.

[RKP5637]

58. Yep, it's a little strange IMO. n/t

[Sunlei]

59. Break in the russian everquest servers and we'll kick their asses!

[Kablooie]

62. To announce an attack in advance seems odd.

The only way it makes sense is if it's some kind of bluff or if you are confident that you can breach any and all defenses the enemy puts up.
The enemy, hearing of the impending attack, would fortify himself to the max then when you waltz right on through it would show who's got the upper hand.

So the US must have a lot of hooks deep inside Russian computer systems that are ready to grab hold and rip out their insides whenever America desires.

[RKP5637]

64. They could also be probing their key servers, etc. to detect changes for better targeting

of vulnerable and/or areas wherein key data is located. It could also be part of a PSYOPS operation as part of the plan.

[DeltaLitProf]

63. I wonder if we'll pass on what we hack to Assange

Wouldn't that be cute? Just to see what he'd actually do. Then reveal him to be the Russian stooge he is when he (of course) reveals nothing of the Putin hacks.

Why not also make sure that some of those documents stolen are love letters from Putin to his 6-5 boyfriend Boris in florid, poetic Russian?

[GOLGO 13]

65. So basically, "oh yeah just so you know, when that "thing" happens to all of you? It was us".