NBC News' Richard Engel: My Computers, Cellphone Were Hacked 'Almost Immediately' In Sochi

[kpete]

NBC News' Richard Engel said that upon arriving in Russia to cover the upcoming event, he was hacked "almost immediately" -- and privacy is not something visitors should expect to have.

"It doesn't take long here for someone to try to tap into your laptop, cellphone or tablet," he said Tuesday night.

Engel decided to test Russia's privacy system with the help of American computer security expert Kyle Wilhoit, who set him up with two brand new computers and a phony identity, with fake names and addresses. When Engel connected them to the Internet in Sochi, he said he quickly received a suspicious email and was shocked when his computer was hijacked immediately after opening the email.

"In a minute, hackers were snooping around," he said. "The same thing happened with my cellphone -- it was very fast and very professional."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/05/reporter-hacked-sochi-richard-engel_n_4731846.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003&ir=Technology

[Fumesucker]

1. "I was shocked that opening a suspicious email got my computer hacked"

I'm just going to let that hang there.

[d_r]

2. no kidding

everyone should know it is dangerous getting emails in Russia

[spanone]

5. you can click on a 'suspicious email' right here in the goodle usa & get hacked too!

[Skittles]

8. they know that's a security risk

they were testing how quickly they'd be hacked

[joshcryer]

22. how did they get his email?

[Marr]

26. Yeah-- how was this not just laughed out of the editorial room?

Maybe he could do a follow up on how the Nigerians are running a money transfer scam through Russia.

[KoKo]

3. LOL's ...He's Oblivious to how his Cell Phone is HACKED here in USA!

Last edited Thu Feb 6, 2014, 10:56 AM - Edit history (1)

Look I like Engle....but realize he has to "serve those who pay him" and if it's in his interest to Continue for MSM in the US...he's gotta go after SNOWDEN to get viewers to NBC/MSNBC to watch his stuff.

I like him...but, he's as corrupted as the rest of them if he doesn't think his OWN USA CELLPHONE is Corrupted.



EDITED: He works for NBC/MSNBC not CNN.

[JDPriestly]

11. + 1000

[2naSalit]

27. I think he's

a producer for NBC/MSNBC... not CNN.

But I think it's a puff piece for him, he's gotta be smarter than that... I would hope. Maybe there wasn't any other excuse for him to go to Sochi so somebody came up with a story for him to follow so he could go...?

And for many in the GP, that's probably the level at which they might comprehend the dangers of the interwebs anywhere.

[George II]

30. Yawn....he works for NBC, not CNN. But don't miss a chance to take a shot.........

.........even if he make you look foolish!

[gLibDem]

33. And some people look foolish thinking there's

A difference between CNN and NBC.

[George II]

35. Good one...(I lie!) Hope you last to 100 posts on this site.

[gLibDem]

38. So let me see if I have this right:

Your response to a post suggests the poster might be a fool. I respond to a post suggesting the poster might be a fool. But only I must concern myself with longevity.

Do I need 100 posts to earn the longevity potion?

[George II]

51. Nope, you don't have it right.

[gLibDem]

52. Yawn. Indeed I do.

[Cali_Democrat]

4. Looks like Snowden found a new employer.

He's in Russia, right?

[Cha]

6. too many are studiously ignoring

this thread. USA bad, Russia good.

[gLibDem]

34. Yeah, it's USA good, Russia bad.

[Cha]

37. Mahalo!

gLibDem~

[Fumesucker]

9. Oh, there's plenty more of him still here working for the same folks as he used to

[Cali_Democrat]

16. Americans are hacking journalists phones in Russia?

Hmmm...interesting theory....

[Fumesucker]

17. No need for crude techniques like hacking, they have backdoors into everything

[Cali_Democrat]

19. Holy shit!!! Get this info to Richard Engel right FAWKING now!

It ain't the Russians, it's the Americans who hacked him!!

FUCK!!!

[Fumesucker]

20. You don't have a very high opinion of American elint capabilities

Personally I think the USA has the best, we certainly pay for it so if we don't have the best then it's thanks to corruption.

[VanillaRhapsody]

31. that was my first thought too....Call Snowden STAT!

He will steal documents...then deliver them to a Russian expat and then he can run and hide in the U.S.!

oh wait....

[7962]

40. Remember, he said he didnt want to live in a country that spied on its citizens.

And thats a quote, too. What goes on over there makes the NSA look like a high school project.

[riderinthestorm]

7. The Russians have learned the lesson well. Hack/spy/eavesdrop first, warrants be damned

Fuck international conventions or whether these are friends or terrorists.

Download ALL "metadata" from everyone. Maybe something will be important.

The Russians have learned from the US/NSA example.

No surprise.

[BeyondGeography]

10. Too bad they apparently didn't steal our toilet construction manuals

Or our top secret hotel room door handle construction kits.

[Fumesucker]

12. The Russians have never been exactly babes in the woods regarding espionage

It's amusing watching the "surveillance is good" crowd tisk tisk over Russian activities in these regards though.

[JDPriestly]

15. So true. And the Russians have a lot of amateur hackers too.

They steal personal information for profit.

[VanillaRhapsody]

32. No one is saying that.....but then you know that...

[KoKo]

13. Yes...but Snowden Revelations should have alerted our "New Reporters"

that we are in the "McCarthy Era" for News Reporters....

Engel missed that one in his History Studies in School that he's complaining KNOWING that all of his stuff to CNN has been Monitored for Years.

Kind of "too late to the Party" in cluelessness there...or another motive.

[JDPriestly]

14. The Russians were probably doing it before the NSA was.

It's just a matter of time before someone from Russia and others from some other countries do what Snowden did. The idea of placing all citizens under surveillance is old, and always utterly reprehensible. The STASI tried to do it but didn't have the NSA's technology. Many on DU have stated that the Russians, etc. do it to. No doubt, but that does not make it any less reprehensible when we do it because we are supposed to be the beacon of personal freedom and democracy in the world.

[merrily]

23. We're always willing to learn from the peoples whom we consider our enemies.

We have propaganda that would have made Goebbels drool, and spying, including by one American citizen against another-- that would have turned Stalin green with envy.

It's both one of our best qualities and one of our worst. Then again, they are always willing to learn from us as well. And the 99% all around the world suffer as a result.

[Adrahil]

28. LOL... really?

C'mon dude.... this is fuckin' RUSSIA. The land of the KGB! These guys have been experts at spying on their own population for DECADES. They didn't need any guidance from us.

[Cha]

39. Oh, don't you know.. USA bad..

Russia GOOD!

"These nations, including Russia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Ecuador have my gratitude and respect for being the first to stand against human rights violations."

http://wikileaks.org/Statement-by-Edward-Snowden-to.html

[7962]

41. Wow, never read that one! If that alone doesnt show his true colors, nothing does.

Yet he'll still have his cheerleaders here. Yes, we have our problems, but DAMN......

[Cha]

45. Yes, "but DAMN"..

Thank you, 7962!

[Adrahil]

46. I know... Fuckin' ridiculous. And some here lap it up. Nt

[Cha]

48. Oh, they love them some Russia.. 'cause you know..

"USA is worse "

[Vashta Nerada]

18. Isn't Russia doing to him what the NSA does to everybody else?

Why is Engel surprised?

[Fumesucker]

21. He likes getting his big paycheck?

[Adrahil]

50. No. Please provide evidence that the NSA actively hacked your computer. NT

[merrily]

24. He doesn't mind the NSA doing it?

[Marr]

25. What a fucking idiot. Doing that in the US will get your computer hacked.

"Opened a supspicious email and was shocked when his computer was hijacked".

Well, no shit. Welcome to 1992.

[George II]

29. WHAT???? You mean the NSA operates in Russia? Or did Snowden teach the Russians how to do it?

[gLibDem]

36. Well clearly Snowden taught his comrads.

[justiceischeap]

42. Did anyone actually read the article?

It's not the Russian "government" hacking, it's identity thieves doing the hacking. At least when the NSA spies on me, they aren't then taking my financial information and ruining my already ruined credit. Or creating fake identities from my list of contacts.

[RobertEarl]

47. Right

It probably was not the Russian govt doing the hack.

If it was, he'd probably never even know he'd been hacked, duh!

[delrem]

43. IMO Richard Engel is the most thoroughly embedded "reporter" in the MSM. nt

[Rex]

44. Oh, just like in America.

[davidpdx]

49. It's all the fault of

Amerika