Manafort Learns Encrypting Messages Doesn't Matter

[HAB911]

If the Feds Have a Warrant to Search Your iCloud Account

Federal prosecutors have accused Paul Manafort of witness tampering, alleging that he used WhatsApp and Telegram in an attempt to coordinate his testimony with old business associates. Manafort, Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, may have thought that he was being sneaky by using encrypted chat apps, but Manafort just learned the hard way that strong encryption doesn’t really matter if you’re backing up your messages to the cloud—especially when the federal government gets a warrant to access your iCloud account.

https://gizmodo.com/paul-manafort-learns-that-encrypting-messages-doesnt-ma-1826561511?utm_medium=sharefromsite&utm_source=Gizmodo_facebook

[MineralMan]

1. Oopsie! Back-door unencryption - feds haz it.

Nowhere to run to; nowhere to hide...

[cyclonefence]

2. I think he wanted to be caught

He isn't stupid. He must know that every communication he creates is subject to close examination, and FFS if *he* knows about encryption, doesn't he think the DOJ knows about encryption, too?

As to why he'd want to be caught--maybe he fears for his life, and jail would be a lot safer than the wide world where Russians poison people without getting caught.

[PJMcK]

4. This idea isn't logical

If Manafort wanted to be caught, committing additional felonies is a foolish way to protect himself.

It would be much easier to make a deal with the Special Counsel. He could probably make nearly any deal favorable to himself. For example, look at the slap on the wrist Flynn will end up with. Flynn pleaded guilty to one charge of lying to the FBI; he faced many other charges and lots of jail time (even possibly the death penalty), as did his son who has not been charged. His agreement to cooperate with Mr. Mueller illustrates how lenient the Special Counsel can be for cooperating witnesses.

If the allegations about witness tampering are true, Manafort has put himself in even deeper trouble. Would you consider such a step to "protect" yourself?

[cyclonefence]

7. I take your point, but

don't you think it weird that he would be so clumsy about this? I'm just a dumbass, but I know better than to try to slip anything past the Feds by using encryption software. I figure anything I have access to, they have access to. Why do you think he would so something so stupid?

[PJMcK]

8. Maybe he's just stupid

There don't seem to be a lot of geniuses in TrumpWorld. Every single one of them is like a cartoon character.

Maybe he thought that encrypting his messages would protect him. Fool.

Hopefully, we'll find out the details.

[lapfog_1]

3. this is why you buy a burner phone

establish a new yahoo or gmail email account... turn off any cloud services... pgp encrypt your email... and send it to someone that maybe sort of knows your target of the email and is willing to break the law... and have them deliver the message verbally in a secure public location that can't easily be spied upon.

[Leghorn21]

5. "...especially when the federal government gets a warrant to access your iCloud account..."

GOOD TIMES

[CanonRay]

6. I fought the law..