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by tekkk 3358 days ago
In the article pointed out by Snowden: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/17/us/shadow-brokers-leak-ra... they state that the stolen code is from 2013 and Snowden was quoted in Wikipedia saying "circumstantial evidence and conventional wisdom indicates Russian responsibility".

To me it seems impossible that non-state-sponsored hackers would have gotten their hands into top secret NSA hacking tools. If I'd have guess it would seem that TheShadowBrokers are "useful idiots" that Russia gives information in the way they did (probably) with Wikileaks. The real question is why would anyone leak these files at this very moment? Did it take this long to get angry at Trump or are there some others factors at play?
3 comments
jacquesm 3358 days ago
> To me it seems impossible that non-state-sponsored hackers would have gotten their hands into top secret NSA hacking tools.

About as impossible as the Snowden exfiltration, so that makes it entirely believable.

All it takes is one rogue employee or plant. And if you don't want to burn an inside asset it would pay off to release files that are several years old.

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waitwait 3358 days ago
Releasing several year old files is signalling. "Next time it may include your zero-days". Remember the previous threats?

> What this have do with fun Cyber Weapons Auction? We want make sure Wealthy Elite recognizes the danger cyber weapons, this message, our auction, poses to their wealth and control. Let us spell out for Elites. Your wealth and control depends on electronic data. You see what "Equation Group" can do. You see what cryptolockers and stuxnet can do. You see free files we give for free. You see attacks on banks and SWIFT in news. Maybe there is Equation Group version of cryptolocker+stuxnet for banks and financial systems? If Equation Group lose control of cyber weapons, who else lose or find cyber weapons? If electronic data go bye bye where leave Wealthy Elites? Maybe with dumb cattle? "Do you feel in charge?"

https://web.archive.org/web/20160815152123/https://github.co...

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spydum 3358 days ago
These look much older than 2013. So much of this stuff is targeted at sun/sco.. the only thing I can suggest is: most state/government systems are simply ancient.. so their tools will be tailored to their targets.
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sneak 3358 days ago
"conventional wisdom", which means "knowledge of conventions and traditions", in this case means "guessing".
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