Comey doesn't make much sense re possible intrusion by "hostile actors"

[Bill USA]

FBI director Comey says their investigation only looked at the facts. But when it comes to conclusions about possible intrusions of HRC's server by "hostile actors" he relies on supposition.

https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b.-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clintons-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system

With respect to potential computer intrusion by hostile actors, we did not find direct evidence that Secretary Clinton’s personal e-mail domain, in its various configurations since 2009, was successfully hacked. [p style="background:#eecc77;"]But, given the nature of the system and of the actors potentially involved, we assess that we would be unlikely to see such direct evidence. [font color="RED"]We do assess that hostile actors gained access to the private commercial e-mail accounts of people with whom Secretary Clinton was in regular contact from her personal account[/font]. We also assess that Secretary Clinton’s use of a personal e-mail domain was both known by a large number of people and readily apparent. She also used her personal e-mail extensively while outside the United States, including sending and receiving work-related e-mails in the territory of sophisticated adversaries. Given that combination of factors, we assess it is possible that hostile actors gained access to Secretary Clinton’s personal e-mail account.

Now this is an interesting statement for a couple of reasons. HE said regarding the possible unauthorized intrusion onto HRC's server:

"...given the nature of the system and of the actors potentially involved, we assess that we would be unlikely to see such direct evidence."

He follows that statement with:

"We do assess that hostile actors gained access to the private commercial e-mail accounts of people with whom Secretary Clinton was in regular contact from her personal account."

Interesting. Actually, with regard to a server and possible unauthorized intrusions.. you are much more likely to find evidence on a server -- because if someone is going to the trouble to hack your server - they most likely are going to plant some malware that will remain there so as to send them updates on what the user of that server is doing.

Now, looking at emails on the other hand (as they examined those commercial email accounts of those who HRC sent emails to), generally the emails are just the conduits, the vehicles to deliver your malware into the target's computer system - that is -- their server. You could look through thousands upon thousands of emails and not find the one email that carried the malware. And, keep in mind, most people do periodic housekeeping involving deleting emails. So, the email that brought in the malware might not even be in the email account any longer.

But be that as it may, if they could find malware in emails in a commercial email account they certainly would have been able to catch malware residing on a server.

Comey finishes this paragraph with the inference: "Given that combination of factors, we assess [font size="+1"]it is possible[/font] that hostile actors gained access to Secretary Clinton’s personal e-mail account."

.... Well, yes Mr. Comey, it IS POSSIBLE that bad actors could have snuck into HRC's email's. I guess it's possible that Hillary is a Venusian shapeshifter appearing to be a human. But let's not make it sound like you are drawing a solid conclusion. You just offered us a conjecture of a POSSIBILITY.

... by the way, even if a bad actor read one of Hillary's emails which she sent while in a foreign country --- that doesn't mean they got malware on her server.


.. THere's another point I'd like to make. If Comey only drew conclusions based on facts, he would have to recognize that since they found malware in an email - then they sure as hell ought to be able to find malware on a server. This leads to a conclusion that Hillary's server was more secure than the emails on the commercial email accounts they examined. (This makes one wonder about those commercial emails accounts used for some official business by Colin Powell and Condi Rice)

Then of course, as I've said before, all commerical email acounts are NOT SECURE - because all email service providers have cyber security personnel who are tasked with keeping their systems safe from malware and hacker intrusions. And in order to do their jobs THEY MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXAMINE ANY AND ALL EMAILS (and any attachments thereto) ON THEIR SYSTEMS. And do I need to tell you Mr. Comey: THESE EMPLOYEES OF PRIVATE COMPANIES DO NOT HAVE GOVERNMENT SECURITY CLEARANCES. So any Classified info in government emails or attachments is subject to being viewed by non government personnel who do NOT HAVE GOVERNMENT SECURITY CLEARANCES. In other words, commercial email accounts are NOT SECURE.

[CrowCityDem]

1. Comey was a moron today.

In one breath, he says Clinton's private server was even more dangerous than using Gmail, because there is no round the clock security. In the next breath, he said her colleagues Gmail accounts were hacked.

Huh?

Doesn't that prove her server was a better choice?

[CincyDem]

2. Classic Republican Bogey Man strategy.

...Comey couldn't get away with it but this is the kind of innuendo that's usually followed by the phrase - "look, I don't know...I'm just saying..."

It's possible HRC is a shape shifter.
It's possible she's a time traveler from an ancient (or future) civilization here to save/destroy the world.
It's possible she likes broccoli.
It's possible that (you fill in the blank to scare whoever you're talking to)...

who the f* cares. This "it's possible" logic is like alchemy - trying to turn fear mongering opinion into fact.

My hope for this country is that the majority will see the difference between these bullshit opinions masquerading as fact vs. the real qualifications that HRC brings to the table. A BHO said, it's likely that she is the most qualified candidate to ever seek the job. And in times like these, good to have someone who knows what they're doing at the helm vs. some political hack with a bad toupe.

[seabeyond]

3. Hillary's server was more secure than the emails on the commercial email accounts they examined.

This was my conclusion too.

[Enrique]

4. Sean Penn and/or Alec Baldwin

[Sheepshank]

5. I noticed that too...Comey makes formal announcement that there is no evidence of hacking

and later on presumes that there must have been hacking...they just cannot find the evidence.

what an asshole.