Is The CIA Hosting A Wikileaks Mirror? [Updated]
from the honeypot-or-not? dept
Whatis42? points us to an interesting post on Reddit, which is initially just highlighting a Google heatmap showing the locations from which people are searching for the term "wikileaks." Not surprisingly, the hottest spot on the heatmap is the Northern Virginia, Washington DC area. Shocking, I know.But, perhaps more interesting is a comment on the thread, which notes that it appears at least one of the Wikileaks mirrors appears to be hosted by the CIA, or at the very least a company associated with the CIA using (for a time) a CIA netblock. The address, wikileaks.psytek.net no longer appears to be hosting anything (right now it just leads you to a standard Apache install page that says "It works!"). There's an interesting discussion in the Reddit comments over what this means -- ranging from everything to someone suggesting this is just a joke, to the "honeypot" question, to the one that seems most plausible to me: as a mirror that is quickly updated as Wikileaks puts up new documents, it allows the CIA to get access to what's being released as quickly as possible. Updated: And, as noted in the comments, it appears the answer is "no." Or, at least, if it is, it ain't this particular site.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: cia, mirrors, wikileaks
Companies: cia, wikileaks
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
[ link to this | view in thread ]
For extra tin hat goodness
Shortly after, it disappeared from their front page, and the URL now returns a 404.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Oops
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Oops
[ link to this | view in thread ]
rsync ip
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Misinformation
http://breakingthecalm.blogspot.com/2010/12/musing-on-misinformation-morons.html
[ link to this | view in thread ]
WHOIS says otherwise...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Misinformation
In a rational analysis (still leaving Occam's razor out of the picture), all of the counter-arguments you made are post-facto; if I were to submit the hypothesis that it _was_ part of a CIA netblock when the rumor was started, but was quickly moved to some VPS as soon as word got out, none of the information you presented would refute that. So, while lack of evidence is not evidence of lack, your blog post really does nothing to refute the accusation. Out of your entire excoriation of the blogosphere, you have only a few facts about what the netblocks are _now_, not addressing the original accusation.
Isn't this fun?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: psytek.net
--- begin quote ---
Concerned Internet Citizens,
I am the admin of psytek.net and I have just come online to tell you what I have found, after recieving a phonecall from a close friend when he saw my domain was linked to the CIA via Wikileaks.
Yes, I decided to run a Wikileaks mirror last weekend as way of participating and helping keep information free and ultimately human freedom.
Upon closer analysis over the last few hours it appears my site has been compromised by CIA operatives who have attempted to discover the source of the Wikileaks mirror source.
I do not know how successful they were, only that they did manage to log all incoming traffic. Including inbound web traffic of users inside the United States trying to view the Wikileaks mirror.
Please everyone becareful when browsing these Wikileaks sites as it appears that someone is actively monitoring us for knowing the truth!
I intend to keep my Wikileaks mirror up to not be deterred by my scare today.
Regards,
psytek.net
[ link to this | view in thread ]
"Concerned Internet Citizens,
I am the admin of psytek.net and I have just come online to tell you what I have found, after recieving a phonecall from a close friend when he saw my domain was linked to the CIA via Wikileaks.
Yes, I decided to run a Wikileaks mirror last weekend as way of participating and helping keep information free and ultimately human freedom.
Upon closer analysis over the last few hours it appears my site has been compromised by CIA operatives who have attempted to discover the source of the Wikileaks mirror source.
I do not know how successful they were, only that they did manage to log all incoming traffic. Including inbound web traffic of users inside the United States trying to view the Wikileaks mirror.
Please everyone becareful when browsing these Wikileaks sites as it appears that someone is actively monitoring us for knowing the truth!
I intend to keep my Wikileaks mirror up to not be deterred by my scare today.
Regards,
psytek.net"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Should I put my tinfoil hat back on?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
When it's so easy to get the information handed right to them, why on earth would they wait for media reports instead of just hosting a mirror internally and monitor updates on it?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: WHOIS says otherwise...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Misinformation
Netcraft is providing a historical analysis. My point wasn't to totally refute the claims, but to question how information based on rumor with no evidence to back it up was treated as fact by people inside of the security community and news sites and spread around the internet.
The original author of the rumor still hasn't presented any evidence that would indicate that the CIA was running the mirror, other than his homebrew script reporting that it was based on the netblock.
The burden of proof is not on me, it's on the people who made the initial claim.
P.S. "Google Search Readily Reveals Xeni Jardin As A Covert CIA Operative" - http://imgur.com/8gW3U.png ;)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: psytek.net
Lets say this stuff contains something that starts WW III. Big time...
So, how does freedom of speech apply when EVERYONE is dead in a nuclear war?
Explain that to me. Do you have freedom of speech when everyone is dead?
You fools don't know what you are playing with...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
a ruse
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No restraint
Explain that to me. Do you have freedom of speech when everyone is dead?
You fools don't know what you are playing with..."
Do not fear, free press, asserting your power against the the government and the corporate powers that be!
Their actions just show they fear the education and illumination of the masses. They have a vested interest in keeping opinions in check, as without such control, the government and corporate powers simply fear their arbitrary claims to power will somehow be diminished. You see, it is through the enlightenment of the people, that their power could be destroyed.
The free press (those without vested interest in the advertisers they serve) directly challenges a government's justification for their behavior in one arena or another. Here, it is the government who obviously is fearful. This is an information revolution of sorts, it is not a war in the militaristic sense of the word.... so
Do not fear... it is the paradox of one generation, that becomes common in the next. This is a new order of freedom of information. Never before has information been so widely available. There are no longer the borders or physical boundaries limiting the power of the free press to allow people access to information and opinion garnered from so many possible sources.
Clearly, people who chose to act in direct contradiction to the powers that be must greatly consider whether or not to tell the truth however important it is to the greater good. It is going to be fear that restrains the common man to stand up against political power. The power brokers (including corporations) fear the common man's ability to destroy this power of restraint.
No. These people, including Assange, are no fools playing a game, they are the representatives of a greater movement enforcing our civil right to choose how to be governed and who we choose to be governed by.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: psytek.net
It's widely accepted that cavemen started the game a long time ago and yes a few people have been burned since but it's also widely accepted that on the whole it's been something of a success.
Fancy joining the human race and opening yourself to a little risk or are you happy to stay in the dark and chew on raw meat?
Your choice.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: psytek.net
So, to answer your question, Yes, we do have freedom of speech when everyone is dead. More importantly, those that died defending that freedom, have died a good death.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The recent leaks have only proven what we already knew: politicians and diplomats lie in public and tell the brutal truth in private (as is often the case for anyone who operates in a "politically correct" environment).
I am interested to hear how this might trigger world war 3?
[ link to this | view in thread ]