by Pamela Williams
Wow! I have to compare the before and after of a fake news attack by MSM, in this instance, against Russia. I knew when I read it several days ago, it was hogwash, but in taking the time to read the “before” articles in comparison to the “after” articles…it is amazing to see the contrast between the lie and the truth.
It shows me that it is absolutely essential to make sure what you are reporting is true, as the damage may not be able to be undone.
As with the actions by President Obama in retaliation against Russia for “hacking”, which has not been proven to the American people, nor to Congress…there is a huge consequence which will have a lasting effect. I want to first look at the original article reporting that Russia hacked into the electrical grid in Vermont. If this were to be true, in my opinion, I would consider it an act of war. This is devastating to America and should never be tolerated. There is no excuse for reporting something this threatening to the American people that is an OUTRIGHT LIE!
Here is a before article that began with the WASHINGTON POST, but it was picked up by:
A code connected to Russian cyber-hackers has been found on an American electricity company’s computer, in further evidence of “predatory” steps taken by Moscow against the US, officials said yesterday.
- The discovery came as Russian diplomats and their families prepared to return to Moscow ahead of a New Year’s Day expulsion deadline set by President Barack Obama.
The malicious software, or malware, found in the Burlington Electric Department system in Vermont, was linked to the Russian hacking operation dubbed Grizzly Steppe by US officials and raised fears about the vulnerability of America’s electricity grid to cyber attacks.
“This attack shows how rampant Russian hacking is. It’s systemic, relentless, predatory,” said Peter Welch, a Vermont Democratic congressman.“They will hack everywhere, even Vermont, in pursuit of opportunities to disrupt our country.”
The company said it had been alerted by the government last Thursday night, carried out a scan and found the malware in one laptop not connected to its grid systems. It said it took action to isolate the particular laptop.
The US electricity grid is highly computerised and experts have said disruptions could have disastrous implications for the country’s medical and emergency services. The Russians did not actively use the code to damage the company, according to an official who spoke to The Washington Post.
http://www.independent.ie/world-news/north-america/russian-hack-code-found-on-us-power-firms-computer-35333173.html
See how utterly serious this article is. It originated how? Who started it and was it intentionally done? I want to know!
Here is the after article…the retraction:
WASHINGTON POST CORRECTS STORY OF RUSSIAN HACK UPON VERMONT UTILITY:
Assuming that the story was true — that Russian hackers had gained access to a Vermont utility’s software — members of the mainstream media piped its echoes across the Internet:
ABC News: Russian Hacking Malware Found on Vermont Utility Computer
International Business Times: Vermont Electric Grid Targeted by Russian Hackers
Chicago Tribune: Russian hack of Vermont utility shows risk to power grid
Each of these stories is now between one and two days old, with no follow-up once the Washington Post edited its original article
But the reaction the original article evoked was something to behold. Vermont’s Democrat Governor Peter Shumlin called on federal officials “to conduct a full and complete investigation of this incident and undertake remedies to ensure that this never happens again.” He made things worse by adding:
Vermonters and all Americans should be both alarmed and outraged that one of the world’s leading thugs, Vladimir Putin, has been attempting to hack our electric grid, which we rely on to support our quality of life, economy, health, and safety.
This episode should highlight the urgent need for our federal government to vigorously pursue and put an end to this sort of Russian meddling.
Vermont’s Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy weighed in:
This is beyond hackers having electronic joy rides — this is now about trying to access utilities to potentially manipulate the grid and shut it down in the middle of winter.
That is a direct threat and we do not take it lightly.
Vermont’s Democratic House member Peter Welch was similarly outraged, creating a sound byte in the process:
It’s systemic, relentless, predatory! They will hack everywhere, even Vermont, in pursuit of opportunities to disrupt our country.
We must remain vigilant, which is why I support President Obama’s sanctions against Russia and its attacks on our country and what it stands for.
The article, skillfully crafted to create the impression of having something important to say where there was nothing, invoked unnamed officials who said “they were not yet sure what the intentions of the Russians might have been” but they were bad, bad, bad. Another unnamed U.S. official asked, “Are they [the Russians] in other systems and what was [their] intent?”
http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/computers/item/24972-washington-post-corrects-story-of-russian-hack-of-vermont-utility
The trail of miscommunications in the media is damaging beyond belief in this instance. The tampering of a Country’s electrical grid by another Country cannot be forgiven. IT IS AN ACT OF WAR. It concerns me that the US might make that mistake in its retaliations against Russia for the alleged hacking, which I do not believe occurred by Russia.
We already know that Obama and his sidekick Joe Biden have already threatened Russia with a cyberattack. We further know that the report that Obama is referring to does not have any actual evidence of a Russian hack. Look at how convincing the article above was accusing Russia of hacking into Vermont’s electrical grid. The first reaction by any American reading it was pure fear. I have to admit I could not forgive nor defend ANY COUNTRY FOR ATTACKING OUR ELECTRICAL GRID! Yet, our own government is indicating to Russia because of an alleged…UNPROVEN…hack…NO TRUE EVIDENCE…that they may cyberattack them.
I remember reading, but I do not have a link to the article at the moment, that the United States admitted they have the capability to bring down Russia’s electrical grid.
U.S. military hackers have penetrated Russia’s electric grid, telecommunications networks and the Kremlin’s command systems, making them vulnerable to attack by secret American cyber weapons should the U.S. deem it necessary, according to a senior intelligence official and top-secret documents reviewed by NBC News.
American officials have long said publicly that Russia, China and other nations have probed and left hidden malware on parts of U.S critical infrastructure, “preparing the battlefield,” in military parlance, for cyber attacks that could turn out the lights or turn off the internet across major cities.
It’s been widely assumed that the U.S. has done the same thing to its adversaries. The documents reviewed by NBC News — along with remarks by a senior U.S. intelligence official — confirm that, in the case of Russia.
U.S. officials continue to express concern that Russia will use its cyber capabilities to try to disrupt next week’s presidential election. U.S. intelligence officials do not expect Russia to attack critical infrastructure — which many believe would be an act of war — but they do anticipate so-called cyber mischief, including the possible release of fake documents and the proliferation of bogus social media accounts designed to spread misinformation.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/u-s-hackers-ready-hit-back-if-russia-disrupts-election-n677936#pt0-406848
PLUS I ALSO DID A POST ON THIS AT IWB:
http://investmentwatchblog.com/cyber-alert-the-united-states-military-has-just-announced-it-has-hacked-russias-electrical-grid/
In conclusion, we see how much damage miscommunications in the news media can cause….damage that cannot be repaired. I pray that is not what we are looking at here. Our future seems to literally depend on the INTERNET.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB3Mz0lZl3c
HUGE: Washington Post Just Caught Trying to Start New Cold War! Look What they LIED About This Time…
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Links:
1) http://libertywritersnews.com/2016/12…