CIA Dump & Russia – Win10 oddities, SSD trim effect, and more!

WELCOME to New Readers –

If you are new to this newsletter just a word of explanation – I do this newsletter roughly once a month – and I put in it various things that I’ve observed in the computer world, mac world, windows world and sometimes more 🙂 I never do anything else with this list so if you are worried you might appear on someone else’s mailing list have no fear. Never have done that never would. And I will remove you immediately if you request. (and if you get it again please feel free to yell at me and I WILL make sure you are not inconvenienced again!)
That said – welcome and enjoy.  And if you have any questions or comments feel free to opine!

CIA Dump – and the Russians

Now this week via Wikileaks we get a dump of CIA documents and one of them (‘Umbrage’ if I recall) details methods to use Russian malware (that the CIA had on hand) and how to MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOUR ATTACK CAME FROM Russia!

Now THAT is interesting is it not?

Just consider for a second.  Russia had no ‘reason’ to attack the DNC as in their estimate (and all others) Hillary was the prohibitive favorite to be the next president.  That would surely piss her off – and not change the election (Trump was not even the candidate when all of this started).

‘Cui bono’ is a wonderful old Latin phrase to be reflected on when considering how likely some event is to be due to some party.

It translates as ‘Who benefits’ and its just not clear to me that the Russians pissing off the Democrats benefits anyone..

BUT – consider that during the 2+ years of the campaign, it was discovered that Hillary had a home brew server in her basement with lots of classified documents on it.  She ignored any directive or restriction covering handling classified information.  She deleted emails she was supposed to save. Someone stripped off classification marks and forwarded them to this server. Things that any lesser individual would have been jailed for and top secret access stripped.  Oh wait that others HAVE been jailed for etc etc….

Surely career Intel people (not the chip firm) would have been horrified at the concept of her becoming president!

What if it was someone in the CIA who broken into the DNC – and left fingerprints pointing at Russia?  It greatly embarrassed Hillary. And it could not have been traced back to YOU.  Now THAT is a motive worthy of consideration.

In any legal arena would this not be called Reasonable Doubt?

Just a thought.

CIA Dump – and YOU

I find it VERY disturbing that the CIA has spent the time and effort to turn your Smartphone against you!  They apparently can create a ‘fake off’ state where your webcam on your iPhone (or Mac, PC or even a TV) appears to be inactive – but infact is on and listening and watching YOU.  They state that this is only for overseas operations.  But … (insert your level of disbelief here).

THE FBI – and YOU
More stories this week that the FBI has been using Best Buy / The Geek Squad – as paid agents – and have used them to investigate various folks computers when they were in for service!
ONE MORE reason to NEVER use the Geek Squad (did you need any more? LOL)
Now if only the FBI would pay ME to spy on my customers … oh wait.  Not very good for business methinks!
Check out the story at http://www.ocweekly.com/news/fbi-used-best-buys-geek-squad-to-increase-secret-public-surveillance-7950030

Really makes you think.  No warrant required when the Geek Squad pokes through your computer!

And no the ‘if you have nothing to hide’ really does not cover this.  This is nothing short of outrageous.
There is a serious bond of trust been computer owner and computer store.  Many years ago in Colorado before I moved out here there was a Jewelry store owner I knew (avid bridge player) who had a business run by his family for over 100 years. (No I dont want to give his name out) A customer went to the cops claiming (loudly) that she had taken a diamond ring in to him to be cleaned – and it came back with a different (and cheaper) stone!  The cops just didn’t believe her (his reputation was spotless!!) but she made a loud enough stink (going to the Mayor of Boulder etc) that finally just to mollify her the police sent in a undercover officer with a ring to be cleaned – and it came back with a different and much less expensive diamond!
When the store owner was confronted he broke down immediately – admitted the swaps and was blaming the economy, he was trying to save his store – and the like.  Needless to say his business was – immediately – destroyed.  No one would give this man the time of day and he was ruined in every possible sense of that word (I believe he avoided jail time only by making full restitution and closing shop).
This was such a violation of trust – exactly because VERY few customers would even know if you swapped diamonds on them!  I give great credit and tip of the hat to the lady who JUST KEPT ON BUGGING the police because she was absolutely right!

Now consider again what the Geek Squad has been doing.  Why are THEY not out of business?

Take care folks.  and look forward to hear from you!