Apple, Samsung and Microsoft React to Wikileaks’ CIA Data & Product Hacking Dump

MAKES ONE  ALMOST WANT TO GO BACK TO A ROTARY DIAL LAND LINE OR BETTER YET, TELEGRAPH AND A PHILCO BLACK & WHITE TV WITH RABBIT EARS ANTENNA…

In the wake of the latest Wikileaks dump, several of the tech firms whose products have been allegedly compromised by the CIA have given their first reactions to the claims. Companies like Apple looked quell worries from their users by issuing a statement to TechCrunch designed to alleviate concerns that the company’s products might still be vulnerable to a laundry list of CIA exploits. In short, Apple maintains that many of the iOS vulnerabilities the CIA previously relied upon have already been patched.

From Apple:

Apple’s statement was the most detailed, saying it had already addressed some of the vulnerabilities.

“The technology built into today’s iPhone represents the best data security available to consumers, and we’re constantly working to keep it that way,” it said.

“Our products and software are designed to quickly get security updates into the hands of our customers, with nearly 80% of users running the latest version of our operating system.

“While our initial analysis indicates that many of the issues leaked today were already patched in the latest iOS, we will continue work to rapidly address any identified vulnerabilities.

“We always urge customers to download the latest iOS to make sure they have the most recent security update.”

From Samsung:

Samsung – whose F8000 series of televisions was reportedly compromised via a USB connection-based hack co-developed with the UK’s MI5 agency – was briefer.

“Protecting consumers’ privacy and the security of our devices is a top priority at Samsung,” it said.

“We are aware of the report in question and are urgently looking into the matter.”

From Microsoft:

The leaks also claimed that the CIA had created malware to target PCs running Microsoft’s Windows operating system.

“We are aware of the report and are looking into it,” a spokesman from Microsoft said.

Google declined to comment about allegations that the CIA was able to “penetrate, infest and control” Android phones due to its discovery and acquisition of “zero day” bugs – previously unknown flaws in the operating system’s code.

From Linux:

Likewise, the Linux Foundation has yet to publicly react to claims the agency had created “attack and control systems” that could hijack computers powered by Linux-based software.

The World Wide Web Foundation – which campaigns for internet privacy – said the US government needed to issue a detailed response.

Daily Commentary – Thursday, February 25, 2016 – In San Bernardino, We Have Two Dead Terrorists and One Locked Cell Phone

• The FBI needs help getting into the cell phone. You would think Apple would have no problem helping the FBI as it might help stop more people getting hurt or killed

Daily Commentary – Tuesday, July 22, 2014 – Ex Whitehouse Press Secretary Jay Carney Possible New Job

• Rumor is Apple in talks with Jay Carney for a public relations position with the company

Move Over iPhone, the Launch of New Samsung Galaxy IV Rumored to Feature Eye Control Including ‘eye pause’ and ‘eye scroll’

Remember when Apple and Iphones used to come out with this type of ground breaking, cutting edge technology?

The new Samsung Galaxy rumored to feature eye control functionality including ‘eye pause’ and ‘eye scroll’.  The S4 which will let users scroll around apps and websites simply by moving their eyes. NICE! Other enhancements are that it is also expected to be powered by an eight core processing chip, compared to the iPhone’s two, and to have a larger screen – 5in compared to 4.8in on the S3 and  a 13 megapixel camera, as opposed to the iPhone’s eight.  The Samsung Galaxy is about to take a huge bite out of Apple.

 The iPhone is to face its biggest challenge for supremacy in the smartphone market this week with the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy.

In what has been described as the most eagerly awaiting technology release of the year, the Galaxy S4 will be unveiled in New York on Wednesday and rumors are the device will feature eye control.

The S4’s predecessor, the S3, already had a feature called Smart Stay that detected if users were looking at the screen.

Hypocrisy, Look Who Has Investments in Companies like Apple, GE & IBM that Outsource Jobs Overseas … Barack Obama of Course

HYPOCRISY ALERT …

For all his bad mouthing, for all his condemnation of Mitt Romney, Bain Capital and the misrepresentations and lies of outsourcing of jobs overseas, guess who has investments in some of the biggest US companies that outsource jobs overseas? Why that would the the “Carnival Barker” in Chief Barack Obama of course. Obama has accused Mitt Romney of profiting from companies that shipped jobs overseas, yet our dear leader has done the exact same thing. More than 30% of his income comes from overseas.

As reported at the Washington Examiner, Barack Obama has profited greatly from companies that have shipped jobs overseas. What’s your response to this Barack, cat got your tongue? There is actually nothing wrong with investing in the Vanguard 500 Index Fund that contains outsourcing companies, the problem is you do not get to be two-faced and accuse another of something that you are doing yourself.

But Obama’s own portfolio shows a willingness to invest in American corporations that have shifted employment overseas.

In his most recent financial disclosure from 2011, Obama and his wife reported having between $200,000 and $450,000 in the Vanguard 500 Index Fund, which invests in the largest U.S. corporations. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as of Sept. 30, 2011, the fund’s biggest holding was 8,272,039 shares of Apple Inc., then valued at $3.2 billion.

The mutual fund that the Obamas have invested in also held 94,582,281 million shares of General Electric, valued at $1.4 billion, as of the SEC filing. The multinational conglomorate has a long history of outsourcing – according to a new book  cited by the New York Times, in 1989, “G.E. became the first U.S. company to outsource software work to India.” Obama also has close ties to GE’s CEO, Jeffrey Immelt, who was appointed as chairman of his outside panel of economic advisers last year.

In addition to Apple and GE, the Obamas’ fund listed 10,655,961 shares of International Business Machines, valued at $1.9 billion. As the Wall Street Journal reported in 2009, “The technology giant has been steadily building its work force in India and other locations while reducing the number of workers based in the U.S. Foreign workers accounted for 71% of Big Blue’s nearly 400,000 employees.