2000 attempts to hack Treasury – who gains by this and is it over for Simon Bridges?
Astounding details this morning by the poor Treasury womble who’s been pushed out to front the media after their incredible announcement last night that they’ve been hacked.
The glassy eyed blinking Bureaucrat who looked like he wouldn’t be seen dead watching the AM Show had to front it and get dissected by John Campbell 15 minutes later on Breakfast.
That’s one hell of a combo. Duncan’s brass knuckles and John’s brass balls.
There had been suggestions by the tech geeks on twitter that Treasury had accidentally put the budget up early, that was rejected this morning with news that they were hacked 2000 times.
It wasn’t a basic denial of service attack, this was a targeted password attack.
If it’s not a cock up by Treasury, it’s malicious and seeing as the GCSB guard Treasury, it’s sophisticated enough to bypass them which suggests an inside leak within Treasury, an inside leak within the PMs Department or a state actor.
Does anyone honestly think Simon Bridges has the brain trust to plot and plant something this sophisticated? He can barely tie his shoes up without tripping over his own laces. Oh, he’s opportunistic, no doubt about that and he’s used the information devastatingly to hi jack the budget announcement, but to suggest he’s smart enough or Machiavellian enough to plan this is as believable as Trump being a feminist folk music aficionado.
Bridges has come out and said the information he has was not the hacked information. Treasury say it is.
Unfortunately for Bridges, if he has wittingly or unwittingly taken stolen classified information, he’s in trouble.
How Bridges should have dealt with the leak was to call Grant, inform him he’s received the budget and will not release the information because it isn’t in the country’s best interests and call on Police to investigate the leak. Then call a press conference to tell the media that he’s contacted Grant and tell the public he’s not going to release it, but do say in broad terms his criticism. That way he would have looked statesman like.
What he did do was desperately throw out everything to attack Labour while quietly releasing his culture report and news Aflred’s Anti Abortion Angels won’t be leaving ,without even contemplating why he was being leaked or by whom.
Every single time Bridges is under the high ball, he screws it up. He over compensates for his weakness by being pig headed and doesn’t see the consequences of his rashness. This isn’t the office bar at the Tauranga Prosecutors clubrooms after a big win Simon, this is defence of the bloody Realm stuff.
Someone hacked Treasury.
It’s either an insider within Treasury who is ideologically outraged by a wellbeing budget. A partisan bureaucrat within the Department of the PM or it’s an external actor.
There are now three questions.
Who hacked Treasury?
Why did they pass the information to National?
And if the Police investigation leads to the conclusion that National were leaked the hack, will Simon Bridges resign?
Simon: “Ummmmmmmmmmmm”
Amy: “……..”
Paula: “Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck”
The other possible conclusion is that Treasury have screwed up and that the hack allegation is a lie to cover for their fuck up. IF that’s the case, heads would need to roll in Treasury and the Minister of Finance would have to step down.
Everything is now in play.
24 hours ago several high ranking National MPs including Simon was probably feeling pretty satisfied with themselves. Today one of them will be planning their retirement.
I’m thinking you’re seriously overestimating the ability and competence of the GSCB.
That begs the question: Is it possible to underestimate the ability and competence of the GCSB?
To be a competitive cutting edge Windows Defender you really have to have your own military R&D unit. We have a procurement lobby instead that buys the latest technology instead of developing it ourselves. The GCSB is more like a decent security door with those flimsy wire mesh things covering the Windows. GCSB isn’t designed to do on the offensive. They’re mainly defensive.
If the Police ask Simon Bridges who passed him the stolen goods, and Simon refuses to reply, then that probably counts as being an accomplice – by protecting the thief – and Simon could be charged. I think him more straightforward than either of his predecessors and the police should be grateful that it’s not John Key that they’re dealing with.
I’ll check with my Nat neighbours, but as far as I know he’s still regarded as the best of a bad bunch as Nat leader. If he was deliberately set up from within his own party, that is sinister and scary, as it suggests someone who thinks that they’re above the law, and most criminals – according to the cops – are not as clever as they invariably think they are. Same with politicians.
One nice thing about both Simon Bridges and Alfred Ngaro is that apparently they both get advice from their wives. They should listen to them.
If, as improbable as it might be, it turns out to be foreign actors, (China maybe?), does that mean Simon Bridges has committed treason?
Seriously, I’d love to know the legal ramifications of this…
National party = dirty politics volume 2.
A precurser to the 2020 election.
Funny how Bridges saying national did everything right?
Bridges complains that Robinson should front the media but it was National that stopped the labnbour plan to start a “free to air” channel where labour could always have their own media platform.
So Bridges you cant have it both ways can you?
All the commentators that have predicted Simon’s demise over the last few weeks have been proved wrong and he is still there. National is not like Labour with their constant change of leaders satisfying one faction but upsetting another until they stumble on a Helen or Jacinda who takes them to heady highs before they crash and burn
WHO HACKED THE BUDGET ?
Haven’t the Chinese been cosy with National for a very long time ? Buying MP’s , illegal donations , many many previous National Mp’s and cabinet Ministers in dubious joint business ventures ? Maybe now hacking Govt Departments to help their greedy planet raping buddies out ?
If a link can be established , this may really undermine the not only Bridges but very seriously damage National’s integrity . Treason indeed , from the Chanational Party .
In ancient England , Simon Bridges , wouldn’t just be resigning ,he ‘d be off to the tower of London to face his maker and the crows .
Could be the best boost Labour ever gets .