An update on state-sponsored activity | Hacker News Reader

An update on state-sponsored activity

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They can't tell you when their own government goes fishing in their pond so they talk about Iran instead.

https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview?use...

Those are actions with judicial oversight. I believe OP was referring to NSLs and other IC actions.

NSLs are counted here, and ones without non-disclosure obligations have the actual letter published.

https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/us-national-...

Should have specified NSLs that cannot be disclosed but the IC activity is far more significant.

It appears even NSLs that cannot be disclosed are still counted in the published numbers. IC is Intelligence Community? I would assume google would warn users of phishing attacks by the NSA just as they would warn users of phishing attacks by Iran.

At this point I'm actually less worried about the NSA and their friends then the NRA and theirs.

As someone who is - or has been - a member of all of: the NRA, Gun Owners of America, Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms, the Second Amendment Foundation, and Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, I have to ask "why?" What exactly about NRA members and associates scares you?

I remember several years ago the NRA publicly declared they would become more active in conservative politics, that's when they went downhill in my book. They used to be single issue and not partisan, but they decided the 2nd amendment was a "conservative" issue. Maybe that's when the Russians got involved, I don't know.

> Technical data associated with these actors is strongly linked to the official IRIB IP address space.

I've always been under the impression that IP addresses aren't always reliable indicators of identity, has this changed?

Far more reliable for large organizations/governments, less reliable for ISPs that hand out dynamic IPs.

I should have been more clear, I'm wondering if it is technically possible to spoof an IP address?

Interesting that the Russians chose to use Microsoft instead of Google[1].

[1] https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/08/microsoft-shuts-...

The number of channels and accounts identified strikes me as low.

One can delete the 'amp/' suffix on the URL to get a version which works just fine without JavaScript: https://www.blog.google/technology/safety-security/update-st...

duck and cover

How many Googlers are drawing a second paycheck from a foreign or domestic spy agency? The root of that equation is assuredly greater than 1. How much greater?

Not that I know anything but a thought experiment: How many Googlers have access to production data?

It would be interesting to see how the US government treated any Googlers that had a foreign state paymaster, as foreign influence has been a bit of a controversy for the government too.

Don't be evil -> Do the right thing -> At least we are not dropping bombs on schools in Yemen

> three email accounts

three. email. accounts. I'm feeling safer already!

Truthfully, it's disconcerting that this is being presented with a straight face. Although thinking positively, maybe the larger campaign is a sign that the four standard horsemen - "terrorists", "pedophiles", "drugs", and "money laundering" - are getting tired.

It's also interesting how quickly the sabre-rattlers got this to play with the political team that is usually less jingoistic.

There were the three YouTube and three Google+ accounts too, although I’d argue that the Google+ ones come pre-disabled.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. This tepid references to we can't disclose anything 'because security' is circular logic. Casting aspersions without evidence is a fundamental abuse of due process and basic standards of jurisprudence. It is a witch hunt.

Are we to assume only Russia, China and Iran are running ops and others are innocent sheep? This is like 'villain of the month'. If they truly have the capability bring out all the evidence and identify all patterns of such behavior so people are aware of astroturfing not only by other governments but also their own government and other vested interests.

This is a dangerous game of spreading FUD and poisons the well. Without ironclad evidence it demonizes dissent, diversity, alternative opinions and with it informed discussion. And legitimizes censorship.

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