The big news this last week in the on-line world and connected devices was the Vault 7 release from WikiLeaks. Over 8,000 pages of stuff, much of it detailing the tools that the CIA used to spy on people. Many of those tools targeted smartphones, smart cars and smart TVs; not the laptops and servers that are the staples of Hollywood Cyber Hacking.
(Courtesy USA Network via the kind soul who posted it to YouTube)
In other words, the CIA has been targeting the Internet of Things. According to WikiLeaks. Who may or may not be in cahoots with Russia or the Trump Administration or not the Trump Administration. Or maybe Brexit?
Putting aside the loyalties of an institution who's primary aim is to "... give asylum to these [persecuted] documents, we analyze them, we promote them and we obtain more,” what we need to know is whether or not the CIA is spying on us through our TVs. Are they? Won't someone please tell me so I can enjoy my mindless drivel in peace?
Most experts seem to think that the short answer is "no, the CIA is not spying on you." The longer answer adds a bunch of addendum: if you are an American citizen living in the USA, then it is illegal of the CIA to spy on you. Because the legality of the CIA's operations is something that the American people have learned to trust, right? Right?
If you are not an American or an American not in America, the the CIA might have used some of these tool to find out if you are doing things counter to the interests of America (sentence needs more America.) Otherwise, it's not the CIA you need to worry about. It's the NSA and the FBI and the ATF and the HSA, maybe the ICE or the FCC or the FTA (probably not FTD, but don't count them out). Who knows how many of these 'tools' have been shared?
BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY THE POINT
All of this brouhaha about WikiLeaks may be true (most likely), but why now? They have been promoting Vault 7 for a while. Why release it now? From what are we being distracted? Here's some of the things that are happening while we all stare at Assange's 'sexy' face.
- Changes to the FCC Net Neutrality Rules that may allow ISPs to sell users' search histories.
- The Trump-Putin Connection (alleged).
- The Republican Health Care plan (not very successfully)
WikiLeaks can serve a purpose. They can expose things to the public that are in the public's best interest to know. But they can also do those things in such a manner that is NOT in the public's best interest. This may be one.
We all need to keep an eye on everything that's going on and not be distracted by one story.
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