The hottest Espionage Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

Julian Assange’s Final Appeal

The Chris Hedges Report β€’ 8 HN points β€’ 18 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Extradition Espionage Government Justice System Press freedom
  1. Julian Assange faces his final appeal for extradition, which could silence investigations into government power by press.
  2. Assange published classified documents revealing U.S. war crimes, leading to his persecution under charges violating the Espionage Act.
  3. The legal battle reflects a complex situation with questions of press freedom, unfair trial, and the future of investigative journalism.

Everything is espionage: Things I learned researching Assange

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER β€’ 4 HN points β€’ 14 Mar 24
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Espionage Julian Assange Presidents Extradition
  1. The US Espionage Act is defined very broadly and has been used over time in various ways to charge individuals with offenses related to obtaining or communicating information harmful to national defense.
  2. There is a history of government restraint in charging individuals with espionage, focusing mainly on actual spies, but recent administrations have expanded the use of the Act to charge whistleblowers and journalists.
  3. Julian Assange's case has raised questions about the constitutionality of the Espionage Act and the need for clarity in distinguishing between whistleblowing and espionage in the modern era.

VOL 59: Behind Enemy Lines: When a US Spy Plane Was Shot Down Over the USSR

MAP's Tech Newsletter. β€’ 9 implied HN points β€’ 25 Apr 23
πŸ’Ύ History Cold War Espionage
  1. In 1960, an American U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union, leading to tensions and significant consequences in US-Soviet relations.
  2. The U-2 spy plane was a top-secret aircraft used for high-altitude reconnaissance missions to gather intelligence behind the Iron Curtain.
  3. After the U-2 incident, the US government initially lied about the mission, but eventually had to admit it was a spying operation, leading to diplomatic fallout and a prisoner exchange.

What's hidden in Ukraine? Dutch intelligence says cyber attacks "not yet" public knowledge

Cody's Version β€’ 2 HN points β€’ 23 Feb 23
🌍 World Politics Cyber Warfare Intelligence Services Sabotage Espionage Military operations
  1. Cyber attacks during war may not be publicly known due to covert operations and deniability.
  2. Cyber activities are often part of broader strategic objectives, making it challenging to attribute isolated incidents.
  3. Targeted institutions have no incentive to advertise successful cyber compromises during war.

#16 Carbon-negative alcohol, The Thing and design heroics

Design Lobster β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 15 May 20
πŸͺ‘ Design Environment Espionage Quotes Objects
  1. Create carbon-negative products to reduce environmental impact - like carbon-negative alcohol made from waste carbon dioxide.
  2. Big and flashy design can hide malicious intent - like 'The Thing' espionage device disguised as a gift.
  3. Find heroism in the ordinary - as seen in the architecture approach of Alison and Peter Smithson using everyday materials.
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Red Apollo and Operation Cloud Hopper

Espionage& β€’ 2 implied HN points β€’ 16 Jun 23
πŸ•Ή Technology Cybersecurity Espionage Malware
  1. Red Apollo conducted a technology theft campaign starting in 2006, targeting various sectors and institutions using spearphishing techniques.
  2. Operation Cloud Hopper, launched in 2014, expanded Red Apollo's activities to targeting a Managed Service Provider and client organizations in 12 countries.
  3. Red Apollo, also known as APT10, is a Chinese state-sponsored cyberespionage group involved in stealing confidential data and intellectual property.

Canadian intelligence's dirty little secret

Espionage& β€’ 1 implied HN point β€’ 21 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Intelligence Terrorism Espionage Investigation Conspiracy
  1. Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) destroyed valuable tapes after an aircraft bombing investigation, hindering the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) inquiry.
  2. CSIS failed to cooperate with the RCMP investigation, leading to wasting time, energy, and pursuing wrong leads in the case.
  3. Surjan Singh Gill, an agent of CSIS and co-conspirator in the Air India bombings, was never charged, indicating possible malice in CSIS's actions.

Top U.S. Spies Warn: War with China Looms…And It’s Not Looking Good

TOP SECRET UMBRA β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 18 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Cybersecurity Espionage Diplomacy
  1. Chinese hackers exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft email systems to access U.S. officials' communications.
  2. Biden administration's attempts to repair relations with China have not been successful.
  3. Beijing has stopped answering the Pentagon's hotline, increasing the risk of misunderstandings turning into a war.

Risky Biz News: SVR hackers also breached HPE

Risky Business News β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 26 Jan 24
πŸ•Ή Technology Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities Malware Espionage Tools
  1. HPE and Microsoft faced breaches by the same Russian state-sponsored hacking group, highlighting the ongoing cyber threats to tech giants.
  2. SEC's new breach disclosure rules are leading to faster reporting of incidents and more detailed disclosures from affected companies, changing the cybersecurity landscape.
  3. Various new cybersecurity incidents and threats, including DDoS attacks, ransomware incidents, and insider threats, continue to impact organizations globally.

Russia's Cyber War Gets Smarter… And Dumber

Seriously Risky Business β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 11 Jan 24
πŸ•Ή Technology Cybersecurity Espionage Ransomware Telecommunications
  1. Russia's cyber activities in Ukraine are a mix of smart surveillance techniques and flashy, but counterproductive, destructive operations.
  2. Although a recent cyber attack by Russia on Kyivstar caused widespread disruption, it ultimately resulted in short-lived impact and missed potential intelligence gains.
  3. Israeli cyber operations, like the Predatory Sparrow attacks in Iran, aim to send warnings but may not be effective in the current high-conflict environment.

"Historical Review of Cyber Attacks by US Intelligence Agencies" Report Released by CCIA

CyberSecurityMew β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 11 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Cybersecurity Intelligence Agencies Espionage
  1. CCIA released a report about historical cyber attacks by US intelligence agencies
  2. The report highlights US agencies' cyber attacks on critical infrastructure, network espionage, backdoor implantation, and more
  3. US intelligence agencies are implicated in hindering global tech development and creating division in cyberspace

Russia-Origin MOVEIt Supply Chain Attack May Have Netted US National Security-Sensitive Information

Natto Thoughts β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 22 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Cybersecurity Espionage Russia US government National Security
  1. The Russia-origin MOVEIt supply chain attack led to breaches in various sectors and even government entities, possibly netting sensitive information such as nuclear waste disposal and research data.
  2. US officials believe the attackers were opportunistic in exploiting vulnerabilities in the MOVEIt tool, but the sophistication and long-term planning of the attack raise suspicions of more than just financial gain.
  3. There is concern that the stolen data could be used for espionage purposes, potentially shared with Russian intelligence services, as seen in previous ransomware breaches involving threats to leak data to military agencies and targeting critical infrastructure aligned with Russian strategic priorities.

Putin: The Spy as Hero

Natto Thoughts β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 06 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Propaganda Espionage Global relations Information Warfare
  1. Putin's admiration of fictional Soviet spy characters like Stierlitz influences his worldview and actions, drawing from the Soviet Union's struggle against Nazism for legitimacy.
  2. Putin's background as a former KGB agent reflects a 'Chekist worldview,' characterized by a perception of enemies, operating in secrecy, and discipline.
  3. Putin employs psychological operations, disinformation, and manipulation to portray the West as deceitful, relying on toxic narratives to divide and distract societies.

TrαΊ£ lời phỏng vαΊ₯n Δ‘Γ i ChΓ’u Á Tα»± Do về OceanLotus

ThΓ‘i | Hacker | Kα»Ή sΖ° tin tαΊ·c β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 18 May 17
πŸ•Ή Technology Cybersecurity Hacking Espionage National Security
  1. Hacker working for a government have advantages like funding and time, they target political dissenters and sabotage in addition to monitoring individuals.
  2. A government-backed hacking group like OceanLotus targeting economic interests overseas marks a shift from traditional political targets.
  3. It's easier to hack into a system than to defend it; Vietnam's cybersecurity defenses have shown vulnerabilities over the years.

Beluga whale thought to be a Russian spy has been potentially assassinated, police report released

Really Stupid β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 15 Sep 24
πŸ“° News Animal Rights Military Espionage Wildlife Human Interaction
  1. A beluga whale named Hvaldimir was found dead in Norway, with a stick causing his death.
  2. There are suspicions that the whale might have been intentionally harmed due to allegations of being a Russian spy.
  3. Hvaldimir was known for being friendly with humans and was possibly trained for therapy with children, but his origins remain unclear.

Tim Walz's Chinese Secrets: A Counterintelligence Update

TOP SECRET UMBRA β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 01 Nov 24
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Elections Espionage Politicians Counterintelligence China relations
  1. Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor, has a controversial history with China that includes multiple trips and a claimed romantic relationship with a woman tied to the Chinese Communist Party. This raises questions about his ties and potential influences.
  2. There are concerns about whether Walz followed the necessary legal requirements for reporting foreign relationships during his military career, which could be seen as a security risk.
  3. The recent allegations about Walz might be part of a larger strategy by Chinese intelligence to remind him of their information on his past. The lack of response from his campaign adds to the speculation about the truth behind these claims.

Ottawa Has Fallen

TOP SECRET UMBRA β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 27 Feb 23
🌍 World Politics Espionage Democracy Election interference National Security Foreign influence
  1. Canada faced serious Chinese interference during their 2021 federal election, raising concerns about democracy and security.
  2. American media has largely ignored the story of Chinese interference in Canada, despite potential implications for US security.
  3. The situation in Canada highlights the need for stronger laws and counterintelligence measures to combat foreign influence.

YourINT SITREP (14 APR 2023)

TOP SECRET UMBRA β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 14 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Espionage Terrorism Diplomacy Conflict
  1. FBI arrested a 21-year-old Air National Guardsman for leaking classified documents.
  2. Russian intelligence is attempting to infiltrate gaming communities, according to Microsoft president.
  3. International tensions are at play, with actions like Poland re-exporting military equipment to Ukraine and China vowing not to provide weapons in the Ukraine conflict.