Obama, McCain Campaigns Both Hacked, Files Compromised

dunezone writes "As the election ends, news is coming out from both campaigns on what happened behind closed doors. During the summer, the Obama campaign had their systems hacked, but so did McCain — and not by each other, but by a third party. '... both the FBI and the Secret Service came to the campaign with an ominous warning: "You have a problem way bigger than what you understand," an agent told Obama's team. "You have been compromised, and a serious amount of files have been loaded off your system." The following day, Obama campaign chief David Plouffe heard from White House chief of staff Josh Bolten, to the same effect: "You have a real problem ... and you have to deal with it." The Feds told Obama's aides in late August that the McCain campaign's computer system had been similarly compromised.'" Also from the article: "Officials at the FBI and the White House told the Obama campaign that they believed a foreign entity or organization sought to gather information on the evolution of both camps' policy positions — information that might be useful in negotiations with a future administration."

Or it coult just be /b/tards having a bit of fun

[jaxtherat (1165473)]

I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Re:Or it coult just be /b/tards having a bit of fu

[Chris Burke (6130)]

My bet is someone trying to get a leg up in their Fantasy U.S. Elections league.

Re:Or it coult just be /b/tards having a bit of fu

[liquidpele (663430)]

I doubt it was anonymous. Basically a bunch of script kiddies.

More likely, it was what always seems to happen:
1) Bot-herder realizes one of his bots is in a valuable location.
2) Bot-herder sells control of the machine online, usually to the Chinese
3) Buyer then uses the machine to either get information or further hack into said organization.

Is that all? The IntarTubes have a solution!

[AKAImBatman (238306)]

Officials at the FBI and the White House told the Obama campaign that they believed a foreign entity or organization sought to gather information on the evolution of both camps' policy positions

Is that all they're after? Pff. The Internet Archive [archive.org] already lets me do that. And if that's too much work, the candidates have already done the graphical diffs [versionista.com] for us!

/tongue in cheek

Re:Is that all? The IntarTubes have a solution!

[Bill, Shooter of Bul (629286)]

No, not the fake ones they publish. The secret ones they don't publish. The plans for world domination. The ones containing the election script written two years ago by the Illuminati's dictator for life: Ron Paul.

Re:Is that all? The IntarTubes have a solution!

[illumin8 (148082)]

Did anyone read the rest of the article? I find it hilarious that Caribou Barbie went on an even bigger shopping spree than previously reported:

NEWSWEEK has also learned that Palin's shopping spree at high-end department stores was more extensive than previously reported. While publicly supporting Palin, McCain's top advisers privately fumed at what they regarded as her outrageous profligacy. One senior aide said that Nicolle Wallace had told Palin to buy three suits for the convention and hire a stylist. But instead, the vice presidential nominee began buying for herself and her family--clothes and accessories from top stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.

Wait, it gets better:

According to two knowledgeable sources, a vast majority of the clothes were bought by a wealthy donor, who was shocked when he got the bill. Palin also used low-level staffers to buy some of the clothes on their credit cards. The McCain campaign found out last week when the aides sought reimbursement. One aide estimated that she spent "tens of thousands" more than the reported $150,000, and that $20,000 to $40,000 went to buy clothes for her husband. Some articles of clothing have apparently been lost. An angry aide characterized the shopping spree as "Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast," and said the truth will eventually come out when the Republican Party audits its books.

I am so glad we won't be hearing from her at least until 2012 or so... Corruption in Alaska? You betcha!

Error in summary

[by Anonymous Coward]

they believed a foreign entity or organization sought to gather information on the evolution of both camps' policy positions--information that might be useful in negotiations with a future administration."

"they believed a foreign entity or organization sought to gather information on the evolution of both camps' policy positions--information that would be entirely useless once the winner back pedals on all campaign promises made."

Fixed that for them.

Re:Error in summary

[khallow (566160)]

Nonsense. The information is valuable for other reasons. It gives a third party information on who the candidate keeps around them and hints about how the candidate and his advisors think. Among other things, that'll help in future negotiations with the administration. And it'll provide avenues for social engineering. They may have obtained vetting information. And further will have some idea who to target for various espionage operations, say if someone wishes to blackmail or bribe.

Re:Error in summary

[myz24 (256948)]

Because eventually people have to get work done

Both campaigns were hacked?

[xactuary (746078)]

Proof that Fox News REALLY IS fair and balanced!

Third party

[hansamurai (907719)]

During the summer the Obama campaign had their systems hacked, but so did McCain - and not by each other but a third party.

Bob Barr or Cynthia McKinney?

Insight into Pragmatism

[DigitalisAkujin (846133)]

I particularly love this insight:
The debates unnerved both candidates. When he was preparing for them during the Democratic primaries, Obama was recorded saying, "I don't consider this to be a good format for me, which makes me more cautious. I often find myself trapped by the questions and thinking to myself, 'You know, this is a stupid question, but let me ⦠answer it.' So when Brian Williams is asking me about what's a personal thing that you've done [that's green], and I say, you know, 'Well, I planted a bunch of trees.' And he says, 'I'm talking about personal.' What I'm thinking in my head is, 'Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve global warming because I f---ing changed light bulbs in my house. It's because of something collective'."

Could you have imagined Obama saying that during the election? heh

Re:Insight into Pragmatism

[by Anonymous Coward]

> Could you have imagined Obama saying that during the election?

No... but he just went up in my estimation having read that.

Re:Insight into Pragmatism

[slimjim8094 (941042)]

I wouldn't mind a pragmatic president. Perhaps that's because I'm a pragmatic guy...

I have a lot of respect for somebody like Joe Biden that says whatever he thinks, because we get a much better insight into he really is.

And that quote is fucking amazing. He said essentially that a couple times, but slightly cleaned up, for what it's worth.

Re:Insight into Pragmatism

[Artuir (1226648)]

To be frank, I wish he would have said that during the election. The man is smart.

The thing that irritates me the most about this election is we've got so many political parrots out there that just repeat misquotes like idiots. It's amazing how ignorant the country is and how little research is actually done for people to make a decision this important. What a dangerous position to be in.

Possible Answers

[lymond01 (314120)]

When posed the question of how one might respond to cyberattacks on their own websites, the following responses were gathered:

McCain: My friends, I've been around the block a few times. I know what it's like to be hacked. I know what it's like to be crippled, to be seized by foreign powers and pried for information. My friends, I've been there, not 30 years ago I was......Internet? What's that now? Oh, like the tubes...

Obama: There is no classified data on those servers. There never was. I will not hide information from the people of America. I will not hide my concerns from foreign powers. We are a nation built on freedom and that includes freedom of information. If they want to know our bathroom schedules, we will let them know. Yes we can. If they want to know where I park my car in the afternoon, I will tell them. Yes we can. If they want to know the route my daughter takes to school...

Palin: Dog gone it, how am I going to know when my next hair appointment is? Oh, it's still there? But you said they stole it. Could we go back to the part just after, "You're my vice presidential choice"? I've been a little confused since then.

Stevens: You ask me if they'll get away with this? I'll tell you. "NO!!"

Bush: Thank Christ the Lord I am done with this job. Next question...

how dangerous!

[jollyreaper (513215)]

It's a good thing McCain doesn't know how to use a computer!

This wouldn't be a problem if. . .

[mosb1000 (710161)]

This wouldn't be a problem if our political system did not practically require politicians to keep secrets and lie through their teeth.

Re:Who....

[Ethanol-fueled (1125189)]

Our adversaries(even though China and Russia are technically our "allies") aren't the only ones who seek to gain from inside knowledge of foreign policy plans.

Israel [wrmea.com] is a good example but there are many others. Somebody hurry up and post other examples before some mods with sticky trigger fingers see this and mod me down for being a "racist Jew-hater".

Re:Who....

[Fluffeh (1273756)]

Pffft, before you go jumping up on all the other countries who would want this info, given the current foreign policy of the US, I wouldn't at all be surprised it they weren't both hacked by inside sources - just to make them THINK it was another country "wanting to invade the proud US of A".

I mean seriously, all those paranoid big chiefs sitting in powerful seats within government organizations? They have careers to protect. Why not make whoever gets into power fearful of the "outside world and it's dangers" before they even get into office? Sure would help get their policy in line with the policy of aforementioned big chiefs in government seats.

Re:Who....

[Ethanol-fueled (1125189)]

You raise a good point. Even TFS says "'... both the FBI and the Secret Service came to the campaign with an ominous warning: 'You have a problem way bigger than what you understand,' an agent told Obama's team."

The old guard have spent the past 8 years stinking drunk with money and power and now 'Bama(and, apparently, most of the common Americans) wants change. Of course, that tinfoil hat theory implies that 'Bama and the old guard are at odds and Obama would be wise to reverse his stance re: telecom immunity.

Re:Who....

[jcnnghm (538570)]

Your tinfoil hat is cutting off the circulation to your brain again.

Re:Who....

[by Anonymous Coward]

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it"

-- Aristotle

Re:Who....

[Colonel Korn (1258968)]

Why would Obama or McCain have secret foreign policy plans in their campaign planning computers? The sensitive data here was most likely canvassing, financing, and advertising plans. They'd be very useful to the other campaign, or to a party supporting either campaign and planning to influence the election. Maybe unaffiliated but supportive organizations like those of T Boone Pickens and his democratic equivalent had this done.

Re:Hopefully this inspired Obama

[Duradin (1261418)]

I don't think that having legislation enacted that cites the latest Die Hard movie as a source and has Ted "Tubes" Stevens as an adviser is a good thing.

We'll wake up one morning and hear that the cyber-terrorism meter is at paisley.