How Trump Made Russia's Hacking More Effective

[DemocratSinceBirth]

It was the president-elect’s hyperbolic characterizations of the pilfered material that turned routine documents into the stuff of scandal

“It’s all just an attempt to delegitimize Donald Trump.” That’s the argument you hear from Trump supporters each time new information comes to light about how hard Russian spy services worked to damage Hillary Clinton. You heard it again on Thursday.

The Trump supporters are 100 percent right: The information is delegitimizing. The president-elect of the United States reportedly owes his office in considerable part to illegal clandestine activities in his favor conducted by a hostile, foreign spy service. It’s hard to imagine a crisis of presidential legitimacy more extreme than that. But that’s no argument against airing this information. It’s precisely why the information must be aired.


“It’s all just an attempt to delegitimize Donald Trump.” That’s the argument you hear from Trump supporters each time new information comes to light about how hard Russian spy services worked to damage Hillary Clinton. You heard it again on Thursday.

The Trump supporters are 100 percent right: The information is delegitimizing. The president-elect of the United States reportedly owes his office in considerable part to illegal clandestine activities in his favor conducted by a hostile, foreign spy service. It’s hard to imagine a crisis of presidential legitimacy more extreme than that. But that’s no argument against airing this information. It’s precisely why the information must be aired.


https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/12/how-trump-made-russias-hacking-more-effective/511880/

[spin]

1. Of course if nobody had used email or was extremely careful while using it ...

the Russians and WikiLeaks could have hacked away and never found anything damaging.

Email is convenient but it definitely is not secure. If you hold an important position you can be damn certain there are people who are very interested in reading your email. Don't embarrass or incriminate yourself in your email or it just might bite you in the ass.

I'm not trying to defend the Russians by any means but just pointing out the reality of the wonderful highly technical world we live in. It might be wise to assume everything you do online is being monitored by someone and more likely a whole bunch of someones.

[malaise]

2. That simple

Nothing is private

[spin]

3. Not anymore. ...

Don't email or post stupid shit on your home or work computer especially if you are someone in an important position.

[Igel]

4. The appropriate thing to do when you get this kind of email is to delete it.

"Mr. Spin, the following link contains an important offer especially for you. Click on it to find out your special office. https://here-are-my-passowrds.screwme.royally.ru ."

"Mr. Spin, we have detected unusual activity with your online banking account. Please click here to verify your username, password, social security information, checking and savings account information, and to transfer title of your house and car to my boss: https://give-me-your-financial-info.u-r-a-dickhead.ru ."

Of course, it doesn't help when the IT advisor simply thinks "illegitimate" without the "il" prefix is just a typo. It most certain is.

(Oh, did I misspell -n't as ? Oops.)

[spin]

6. I suspect that most cyber intrusions are a result of such email. (n/t)

[unblock]

5. Really it was 98% republican and media lies and sensationalism

What is they actually found wasn't much.

It's not like they found kiddie pron or other real criminal activity.

They made a mountain out of an anthill and ignored how heinous toxic trump's behavior was, not the least of which was criminally soliciting espionage against americans

[Gothmog]

7. Frum is correrct

Trump used the Russian hacks and is still defending Putin