Call In The Forensic Grammaticians!

The NY Times has a long piece about how the Russians apparently hacked the DNC and then John Podesta. There are several Keystone Kops moments (some lowlights by AllahP at Hot Air), but this has captured my attention:

Hundreds of similar phishing emails were being sent to American political targets, including an identical email sent on March 19 to Mr. Podesta, chairman of the Clinton campaign. Given how many emails Mr. Podesta received through this personal email account, several aides also had access to it, and one of them noticed the warning email, sending it to a computer technician to make sure it was legitimate before anyone clicked on the “change password” button.

“This is a legitimate email,” Charles Delavan, a Clinton campaign aide, replied to another of Mr. Podesta’s aides, who had noticed the alert. “John needs to change his password immediately.”

With another click, a decade of emails that Mr. Podesta maintained in his Gmail account — a total of about 60,000 — were unlocked for the Russian hackers. Mr. Delavan, in an interview, said that his bad advice was a result of a typo: He knew this was a phishing attack, as the campaign was getting dozens of them. He said he had meant to type that it was an “illegitimate” email, an error that he said has plagued him ever since.

The Times links to the relevant Wikileaked email, which reads as follows:

Sara,

This is a legitimate email. John needs to change his password immediately, and ensure that two-factor authentication is turned on his account...

Now, call in the forensic team, because we have an "a" / "an" problem. These two phrases are grammatically correct:

(1) This is a legitimate email, or

(2) This is an illegitimate email.

But that is a heck of a typo if he truly intended to write "This is a illegimate email". What are kids being taught in school these days?

But To Be Fair, the grammatically challenged techie continued with good advice in the fateful email:

He can go to this link: https://myaccount.google.com/security to do both.

It is absolutely imperative that this is done ASAP. If you or he has any questions, please reach out to me at 410.562.9762

He did NOT advise them to click on the link in the suspect email, but instead directed them to the known Google website. He was very probably thinking "This is a legitimate problem" and presented a sensible solution.

Had he been a bit more verbal, or the recipient a bit more tech-savvy, history would have changed! Oh, well - as PT Barnum nearly said, no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of DNC staffers.

My advice for anyone pondering an email and wondering whether it is a phishing attempt comes from the classic Ronin, delivered by Robert DeNiro: "Whenever there is any doubt, there is no doubt."

The risk-return of experimenting with a dubious email link is hopelessly unfavorable. If the underlying message seems plausible, make your own way to the appropriate website, ignoring any seemingly-helpful links provided in the email.

Make America's Emails Great Again!

Comments

[DebinNC]

Deflategate II for those interested.

[DebinNC]

Rick Lowry: It's Not A Junta - on the left's horror at Trump's military appointees. Nothing shows journos are deranged like their demonizing a group with a public approval rating of 73%.

[Porchlight]

My husband remarked that Trump relives the election with each of his victory audiences who *relish* the retelling. It's like sitting around the camp fire to hear the "stories of our people."

Frau, that is exactly what it's like. Memes are a form of oral history, after all.

That voice he uses to mock the newsreaders is hilarious.

"What did you do in the great 2016 election, daddy?"

[Porchlight]

/r/The_Donald is having a lot of fun with the Russian thing.

https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/

[Another Bob]

GUS | December 14, 2016 at 02:15 AM

Smallish world. T-day weekend we were in visiting friends in Ashippun.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/the-administration/310103-a-tale-of-two-cabinets-obamas-cronies-vs-trumps

While the media is concentrated on "too many generals" and "Russian ties" they missed a deeper difference.

Obama's cabinet was completely drawn from the bureaucracy and academia. This explains the total incompetence.

[DebinNC]

On Trump's cabinet appointees: “What we have are ignoramuses, billionaires and a few generals,” lamented Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post.

[henry]

As compared to the nincompoop writers at WaPo?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Deb,

I wondered if anyone would see that comment from the crazy woman! LOL!

[Marlene]

Good Morning! Tech help,please! My Kindle won't charge. Of course,I'm 90% thru the book I'm currently reading,talk about a cliffhanger! So,should I change the battery or get a new Kindle? It would be nice to have a non-glare screen so I can read outside. Help!

[rse]

Alan Thicke reportedly died playing hockey with his son, which I think is the Canadian version of "I'd like to go peacefully in my sleep"

That's what I thought when I read what happened to him.

[JM Hanes]

Marlene:

I'm afraid I can't help on the Tech support end, but you can download Amazon's kindle app and finish the book on your computer, if the suspense is killing you.

[JM Hanes]

Miss Marple & Porch:

I'm enjoying the Reddit thread on naming the next nuke sub(s), too.

USS Deplorables: "It's about time we upgrade from a basket."
USS Julian Assange!
USS Pepe!
"I think we're gonna need a bigger boat"

LOL

[Buckeye]

On Trump's cabinet appointees: “What we have are ignoramuses, billionaires and a few generals,” lamented Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post.

Best steamroller operators Trump could find.

That broad at Energy that stiffed the transition team needs to check with HR about her retirement bennies. Got 36 days left.

[Buckeye]

Marlene

Don't know what kind of cord the Kindle uses, but if same a another device you have, try swapping.

Cords fail all the time from bending stresses around the connectors.

If the charging symbol on the Kindle is visible when plugged in, ignore me:)

[henry]

Is this judge Russian?

It is interesting how the MSM uses the "hacking vlad" manoeuvre to ignore how much email came out through FOIA, and the damage to Hilligula from that.

[PD]

That broad at Energy that stiffed the transition team needs to check with HR about her retirement bennies. Got 36 days left.

I wonder whether the transition team will reply to her:

"You can provide the information requested now, or someone else can do it later."

[Jack is Back!(On his iPhone)]

At MB dealer for service. NYT on waiting area table. Headline:

Hacking the Democrats.

Makes them look like a bunch of digital misfits.

[Beasts of England]

Dang, Buckeye - some serious groove. I can't quite determine if it's in Spanish or Portugese, but that's a secondary issue. :)

[James D]

I wish I could say I'm surprised that the Clarendon Ballroom backed out on the DeploraBall, but I'm not.

I guess I am surprised they even said yes at all in the first place, though.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

JamesD.,

The mistake was advertising the presence of Cernovich et all. Shame, but that's the way it is.

Should have just rented the venue for a large wedding reception or something.

[DebinNC]

I'm a complete techie ignoramus, Marlene. "Change the battery" seems like no-brainer in my completely clueless opinion, but fwiw my 14 yo granddaughter's here and says she had a similar problem with a device and the battery cost almost as much as buying a new one.

[Beasts of England]

Isn't the Clarendon Ballroom considered a public accommodation?

[common man]

Do they have a contract? Sue them for breach. And pain and suffering.

[sbw]

We will be forthcoming with all publicly available information with the transition team. We will not be providing any individual names to the transition team.”

Fine. Please have the names on my desk January 20th along with the names of those who made this decision.

[buccaneer morgan]

I pointed out that was zakarias first piece at the new republic, right out of Princeton, re the nsc, Obama's cigar store Indians were for show, of course.

[Truthbetold5]

David Brock Cries Discussing Pizzagate — Glenn Thrush Comforts Him: ‘I’m Sorry. I’m Sorry.’ [AUDIO]

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2016/12/13/david-brock-cries-discussing-pizzagate-glenn-thrush-comforts-him-im-sorry-im-sorry-audio/#ixzz4Sosykjz6

[Captain Hate]

Ok, having spent time in Arizona this year I can understand why McStain keeps getting elected but Goober Graham's popularity in SC doesn't intuitively make any sense. What am I missing?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--That broad at Energy that stiffed the transition team needs to check with HR about her retirement bennies. Got 36 days left.--

I don't believe that is accurate. She only has two or three days left because Barry pledged to do whatever he could to help the hapless Trump succeed so he will personally fire her if she doesn't comply because he's an honorable man of his word.

Why are you all laughing at me? Is there a flaw in my reasoning?

[common man]

hahahahahaha!

exhibit 986 of how stupid progs are.

Dr. Jill says with a straight face, she has spent every penny of the $7.3 MM raised for the recount. Filing fees only about half. Lots of legal fees, consultants and staff. Find the disguised campaign expenses she could not otherwise pay, I challenge you.

[henry]

Yeah that lakeside "meeting center" with 3 brs soaked up a million or so.

[Porchlight]

The Podesta phishing story is a distraction. The Podesta and DNC emails were leaks IMO. Much more worrisome and demoralizing for the Dems.

[Truthbetold5]

Julian Assange Confirms Hillary’s Worst Nightmare: DNC Leaks Inside Job Not Russians

https://www.worldnewspolitics.com/2016/12/12/julian-assange-confirms-hillarys-worst-nightmare-dnc-leaks-inside-job-not-russians/

[buccaneer morgan]

He was in a primary with four tomato candies.

[DebinNC]

AP has done what no reputable news outlet could - written a long analysis of the current dire situation in Syria without using the words "Obama" or "red line".

[DebinNC]

Re Lindsey Graham getting elected in SC - He's a vet and strong on national defense issues, SC has more retired military per capita than any other state, and savvy Dem voters, knowing a Republican Senate candidate win likely win, vote for the one most likely to give fellow Republican senators and voters ulcers.

[buccaneer morgan]

Very tongue in cheek, ignatz. All she's missing are the wooden shoes

[asw]

Marlene it's Christmas! Get a new Kindle. Prices are great now and the new paperwhites are wonderful outside. ;)

[Captain Hate]

Thanks, that kind of makes sense.

Hilarious that a donk insider finally had his or her fill of the entitled snotty attitude of trash like the Clintoon grifters and their ilk.

[buccaneer morgan]

The EPA has gone full vizzini as has noaa

[Captain Hate]

Dr. Jill and the greens competing for top money grubbers? Definitely the best year ever.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Just noticed this because I decided to listen to the Wisconsin rally speech again.

One of the people who met with Trump yesterday was Anna Wintour. She is the editor of Vogue magazine.

[Buckeye]

Why are you all laughing at me? Is there a flaw in my reasoning?

Good one Iggy:)

[buccaneer morgan]

This was the kind of intelligence that gave us the Chicago Olympics.

[henry]

Marlene, some advice from our Chicago friend:

Kindle charge fail very common due to poor install of micro-USB female port. Most micro-USB cables engineered with loose tolerances and lead to poor connectivity. Marlene might have to plug in cable, then wedge, lightly, something under the male plug to create tighter contact. Blackberry cables are manufactured to much higher tolerances and will provide a very, very tight fit with excellent connectivity. That was my solution to about 8 years of iffy Kindle charging games. Never had to worry about it again. Then I went iPad Pro and am done with it until designed obsolescence program kicks in.

[Jim Eagle]

If Trump does nothing else he has vividly identified the crazies out there pretending to be freedom loving all-american exceptionalists when in fact, like Jennifer Rubin, they are phony elitists.

[Buckeye]

Dang, Buckeye - some serious groove. I can't quite determine if it's in Spanish or Portugese, but that's a secondary issue. :)

If it helps Beasts, the singer looks like a gal I saw on Ipanema beach:)

[buccaneer morgan]

Was there a Gladys kravitz type backnin the early 80s, Mary mcrory.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Jack,

It's really amazing how so many have been unmasked. It's like Trump is going around holding up a crucifix and garlic.

[DebinNC]

The difference between Trump and BOzo is so stark. Trump admires successful people and thinks they have something to tell him worth his hearing. BOzo thinks he knows more than everyone he's ever met and believes it's an honor for anyone to be in his presence listening to him speak.

[henry]

new thread

[henry]

“They even launched an armed, pre-dawn raid of Ms. Archer’s home based on a warrant that they knew was not reviewed by, and may not have been signed by, an impartial magistrate,”

The civil suits against Chisolm et al related to the John Doe go to oral argument in the 7th Circuit on Jan 6.

I'm ready for some spillover winning here.

[Beasts of England]

I wouldn't survive Brazil, Buckeye. That much I know... :)