News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Technical report on DNC hack [pdf] by CountSessine on Thursday December 29, 2016 @07:44PM (#13281599)
Exactly, why burn zero-days when you're targeting a technologically unsophisticated adversary with a huge organizational attack surface?

Then how is this evidence of a 'state-sponsored actor'?

And how did the narrative of this story ever get derailed from what it should have been, which was, "The DNC, and John Podesta in particular who had both his gmail and his Twitter accounts hacked, are incompetent", to "this is Russian interference in a US election"?

Re:Technical report on DNC hack [pdf] by xapata on Thursday December 29, 2016 @08:05PM (#13281704)
That some people are unfamiliar with computer security is not news. I have known a fair number of big-shot executives and politicians, all of whom I'd expect would click on suspicious links in their email (if they read the email) and double-click on attachments.

The news is why that particular person was targeted.

Re:Technical report on DNC hack [pdf] by Natsu on Friday December 30, 2016 @01:00AM (#13282844)
> The news is why that particular person was targeted.

For which no proof is being presented. Lots of stuff about hacking tools, nothing really about identifying hackers. Lots of anonymous high level sources offering vague assurances and excuses for why we can't present info...

Re:Technical report on DNC hack [pdf] by xapata on Tuesday January 03, 2017 @03:09PM (#13312576)
I can think of two general possibilities. Either (1) there is a conspiracy to mislead the public or (2) showing the proof would reduce our security in some way. I find the latter explanation more plausible.
Re:Technical report on DNC hack [pdf] by CWuestefeld on Friday December 30, 2016 @05:31PM (#13288059)
this is Russian interference in a US election

Although the media and many in politics are saying this, it's plainly false. There is no serious claim that the Russians interfered in our election.

The claims are that the Russians interfered in a presidential campaign. There's a huge difference between the process of campaigning, versus the election process of casting and counting votes.

Sowing this confusion is useful on at least two levels. Most obviously, it serves to undermine the legitimacy of the incoming President. But it's also useful in setting stage for future debate about campaign finance laws. It's important in that debate to keep separate the ideas of election - which the government must protect to ensure its faithfulness to the voters - versus the idea of campaigning, which the government may never interfere with, which is the primary purpose of the First Amendment.

Re:Technical report on DNC hack [pdf] by couchand on Monday January 02, 2017 @03:07AM (#13299739)
It requires some serious mental gymnastics to split those hairs.
Re:Technical report on DNC hack [pdf] by smsm42 on Thursday December 29, 2016 @07:55PM (#13281657)
There are a lot of people who would benefit from the latter conclusion and not a lot of people who would benefit from the former.
Re:Technical report on DNC hack [pdf] by xapata on Thursday December 29, 2016 @08:06PM (#13281707)
> not a lot of people

There are many Republicans.

Re:Technical report on DNC hack [pdf] by smsm42 on Thursday December 29, 2016 @08:12PM (#13281743)
Republicans as such don't have a lot of motivation to prove DNC incompetence by them being hacked, now that Republicans won the election - that would be much larger claim that DNC is less than competent than being hacked.
Re:Technical report on DNC hack [pdf] by xapata on Friday December 30, 2016 @01:31AM (#13282933)
Your assertion does not persuade me.
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Re:Technical report on DNC hack [pdf] by cloakandswagger on Thursday December 29, 2016 @09:40PM (#13282100)
I'd prefer something a bit sturdier than circumstantial evidence if we're going to accuse a nuclear superpower of cyber warfare.
Re:Technical report on DNC hack [pdf] by ethbro on Friday December 30, 2016 @06:59AM (#13283939)
And sometimes defectors drink polonium-210 and die from radiation poisoning.

The world doesn't come with nice "I did it" notes. You make the best decisions you can with the information you have.