FBI refutes DNC claims about not investigating servers

Naked Security ^

[TigerClaws]

The FBI has fired back at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) over claims the bureau never asked to access servers that were reportedly breached by Russian hackers.

In a statement, the FBI said the real problem was DNC foot-dragging:

The FBI repeatedly stressed to DNC officials the necessity of obtaining direct access to servers and data, only to be rebuffed until well after the initial compromise had been mitigated. This left the FBI no choice but to rely upon a third party for information. These actions caused significant delays and inhibited the FBI from addressing the intrusion earlier.

Earlier, DNC deputy communications director Eric Walker told Buzzfeed News that the DNC had several meetings with representatives of the FBI’s Cyber Division and its Washington (DC) Field Office, the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, and US Attorney’s Offices, and it responded to a variety of requests for cooperation. But, he said, “The FBI never requested access to the DNC’s computer servers.”

The FBI reportedly outsourced the investigative work to third-party tech security company CrowdStrike. Sophos Home

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Even before the FBI statement was released, the DNC was beginning to backtrack on Walker’s claim. Ali Watkins, the Buzzfeed News national security correspondent who broke the original story, wrote in her follow-up article:

A DNC source familiar with the investigation tried to downplay that report on Thursday, hours before the FBI statement was issued. The fact that the FBI didn’t have direct access to the servers was not “significant,” the source said.

“I just don’t think that that’s really material or an important thing,” the source continued. “They had what they needed. There are always haters out here.”

The DNC source also brushed off the idea that it was the DNC that refused to let FBI access the server. When BuzzFeed News attempted to reach the official after the FBI statement came out, he declined to comment.

The ongoing tit-for-tat between the FBI and DNC stretches back to the bureau’s investigation of 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s private email server.

Along the way, the FBI turned its attention to the hacking of DNC servers in July, after Crowdstrike said it had proof that Kremlin-backed hackers were involved.

[TigerClaws]

And CrowdStrike was funded by the pro-Hillary Google guys:

https://www.crowdstrike.com/resources/crowdstrike-closes-100-million-financing-round-led-google-capital/

The DNC likely didn't want to hand over the servers to the FBI as they might have voluntarily waived various rights had illegal activity been uncovered.

[TigerClaws]

I’ve also read on boards - but been unable to verify - that the DNC had no anti-virus software on their servers.

[Grimmy]

Who do you believe when both sides have no credibility?

[Eddie01]

The Russian Expat Leading the Fight to Protect America

In a war against hackers, Dmitri Alperovitch and CrowdStrike are our special forces (and Putin’s worst nightmare).

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a49902/the-russian-emigre-leading-the-fight-to-protect-america/

‘Inevitably there were questions about the strange names his company had given the Russian hackers. As it happened, “Fancy Bear” and “Cozy Bear” were part of a coding system Alperovitch had created.’

Colorful codenames the NYT and the WaPo breathlessly reported were actually invented by Dmitri himself?

‘The Russians did it!’ hysteria is coming from just one guy, an ex-pat Russian hacker, Google backed and paid by the DNC.

[BipolarBob]

Lying liars lying about lying makes me want to lie down.

[arthurus]

I’m sure there is still a mess of stuff on those servers that the DNC doesn’t want the FBI to see.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

No suprise here, the DNC has no idea who looked at their stuff.

[arthurus]

The Russian Expat Leading the Fight to Protect America the Democrats.

[ChildOfThe60s]

The DNC likely didn't want to hand over the servers to the FBI as they might have voluntarily waived various rights had illegal activity been uncovered.

Bingo! It was a given that illegal activity would have been uncovered.

[Williams]

DNC are liars, a rather important factor when assessing this whole issue. God Bless President Trump.

[rockinqsranch]

“DNC are liars, a rather important factor when assessing this whole issue. God Bless President Trump.”

THAT IS THE bottom line. Right on the mark.

[Proyecto Anonimo]

“...and you may lay to that.”

- Long John Silver, Treasure Island, Stevenson (1883)

(That’s his he always ended his speeches)

[Rebelbase]

Great use of that graphic.

[hal ogen]

Let me see...DIMs are liars...the FBI are compromised. Liars and compromised = lots of BS.

[EVO X]

We will never know what actually happened. The democrats had an IT vendor based out of Chicago providing support for the DNC. At what level I don't know. Crowdstrike was a different firm and got involved when Bernie's people got access to files they shouldn't have. They came back when the DNC got hacked.

How did the hackers get in?

Disgruntled staff?

Gross negligence on part of IT staff?

Failure to secure volunteer's bring your own computer?

State sponsored zero day exploits?

[Ray76]

CrowdStrike funders and board of directors are associated with Clinton. http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3511472/posts