Posted on 07/29/2023 2:23:01 PM PDT by Libloather
Hunter Biden downloaded sixteen private messaging apps prior to 2019, many of which utilized encryption, according to a new report.
The apps included Signal, Chinese messaging app WeChat, and Wickr, an encrypted app once favored in the criminal underworld, according to a New York Post report on Saturday citing an analysis of Hunter's abandoned laptop by the activist group Marco Polo.
The Wickr app did not appear on the iPhone backup included in the laptop, but had previously downloaded onto the phone from iCloud, suggesting it had been installed and then deleted, a person familiar with the analysis told the Post.
There's no evidence of what Hunter Biden discussed on the app or with whom, but the person speculated that it could contain conversations pertaining to his father, President Joe Biden.
Since the laptop first emerged in December 2019, Republicans have scoured it for any clues that could implicate the elder Biden in unsavory dealings.
Though Wickr has often been mentioned in court documents related to drug dealing cases and other criminal activity, it also has many legitimate users.
The encrypted app initially targeted corporate users who sought protection from hackers, and has contracted with the US military.
Amazon acquired Wickr in 2021, and is in the process of phasing out the consumer application, known as 'Wickr Me,' with a pivot to focus on enterprise accounts.
Hunter Biden has been the center of controversy for years, with issues arising over his business connections in Ukraine and China, and his former addiction to crack cocaine.
On Wednesday, his planned plea deal to resolve tax evasion charges sensationally unraveled, when a federal judge raised questions about the broad terms of the agreement.
Prosecutors said Wednesday Hunter Biden remains under active investigation, but would not reveal details.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
No immunity for you!!!!!!!!!
No one will ask because those in power don’t want to hear the answer. That way there is plausible deniability.
And that soup looked so good, too.
š„£
Hunter: I had the Bible commentary app as everyone knows but later someone framed me by putting those other ones on.
He was just using them while he was coordinating with Hillary for Chelseaās wedding catering
“many of which utilized encryption”
This is a double edged sword. This looks like an attempt to associate “ANY and ALL encryption” as equaling “criminal activity”. This is absolutely not true and a concept that should not be supported. Many innocent good folks use encrypted utilities. Telegram is one such popular app. And soon many more good people will have no choice as they outlaw certain ideology such as Conservatism and Christianity.
Just because Biden used it this does not make encryption bad... We do not want to lose this capability. It would be like outlawing all cars because of just a couple drunk drivers.
O’rielly had a good way to seriously deal with the drug problem. 2 years for getting caught. I don’t know where they’ll find the jail space but the problem is big. Added to that many western countries are moving toward legalizing psilocybin and ecstasy.
We don’t have to go the rout of execution like asian countries but we gotta get serious.
So the cocaine hookers from Mars app isn’t real????...š²
“We donāt have to go the rout of execution like asian countries but we gotta get serious.”
I think you misunderstood what I was conveying. In no way was I defending Biden’s actions, or any criminal action. I was pointing out that using “encrypted utilities” is not automatic guilt of criminal activity. And pretty soon they are going to start trying to make that “guilt by association” by demonizing encryption. Again, it would be like outlawing all cars just because of a few drunk drivers. We cannot support this concept to demonize encryption in any form, even if it is Biden. There are principles more important.
The government agencies have made it very clear that ordinary citizens can only have decent encryption IF and ONLY IF the government has a key to decrypt it all. Even companies like Apple and others, which supply good encryption to citizens users, get their arms twisted. There's usually some "good excuse" like solving a mass murder or some such.
> It would be like outlawing all cars just because of a few drunk drivers.
Now, now, the government would never do such a silly thing. Why, that's just as silly as outlawing all firearms just because of a few homicidal maniac shooters.
Oh, wait....
Thank you for chiming in on how important this really is dayglored. I hope folks realize their own “morality” is being manipulated and used against them before we lose the ability to remain semi-secure.
I absolutely believe encrypted communications will be our last opportunity to communicate without persecution. And it will not just be privacy from the powers that be, but from hackers who would steal data and use it against us.
“What do you got to hide, only criminals use encryption” might seem righteous to do gooders until using the letters “MAGA” or “Jesus Christ” are deemed criminal... And it’s coming.
Well, most conservatives fell for that argument during the War on Drugs and the War on Terror, so there is no reason for government to believe that it won't work in the current War on Misinformation.
“Well, most conservatives fell for that argument during the War on Drugs and the War on Terror, so there is no reason for government to believe that it won’t work in the current War on Misinformation.”
Yep, absolutely. The psyop scam needs to be exposed right away and nipped in the bud. Like this article. It is not so much about the wrong doing of Biden as it is an attempt to demonize all encrypted utilities. This is how they slip in the brainwashing.
What sort of laptop...a windows or apple operating system.
Apple systems are harder to cracking.
And you are correct.
If you haven't done so yet, look into GnuPG (a.k.a. GPG, the FOSS version of PGP). I have used GPG for encrypting personal communications and data like passwords, for over two decades. The only drawback, but it's significant, is that it is nowhere near as convenient as invisible built-in encryption. You have to think about it and deal with it explicitly.
Granted, relying on Apple or another reputable vendor to encrypt your data is generally safe, and it's certainly painless. But I truly believe that the time will come when the government weakens or outlaws good commercial encryption, and the only fully-private encryption available to citizens will be roll-your-own GPG or equivalent, because it's the only way to guarantee that only you have the keys to decrypt.
A GPG 4096-bit key is uncrackable at present and will likely remain so for many years, and when AI or quantum computing gets good enough to crack that, you can always up the ante and lengthen the key.
“encrypting personal communications and data like passwords.”
That is the huge one for sure. Sharing passwords/keys to a peer on other end is the hardest thing to do so that any encryption at all can be used securely between peers. Just how you share that key is the weak point. Even texting these is vulnerable.
I have been on a personal project to implement all the possible tools. Currently on a project to fork and plug holes in the ZeroNet protocol. Working on making a complete client package including OS so that a “private club” can create their own unique ports and secure internet 3.0 P2P network.
I haven’t played with GnuPG much yet, but you can bet I will be investing some time on it soon. I am trying to incorporate as many as these utilities as possible. The challenge has been making it all work together as a simple GUI package for the less knowledgeable to use painlessly.
Thank you very much dayglored. :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.