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WikiLeaks CIA Vault 7 Dump: The Five W's Explained

Posted: March 15, 2017 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Malware, Data Breach, AI

Who: WikiLeaks is a self-proclaimed "stateless news organization" that is led by Julian Assange.  The website became infamous in June 2013 when Edward Snowden, an NSA contractor, leaked secret NSA surveillance documents proving that the government agency does in fact illegally monitor its citizens. It is believed that the person who leaked the CIA files is also a government contractor. What: “Year Zero” is the first release in a series dubbed by WikiLeaks as “Vault 7,” and is comprised of 8,761 pages that detail the tools used in the CIA’s cyber espionage toolkits, which includes hundreds of millions of lines of code.  The code can be used for nefarious deeds that range from exploiting smartphone vulnerabilities to turning smart TVs into microphones and has actually been in the hands of unauthorized government personnel.    When: Year Zero was released March 7, 2017, but the timeframe for the rest of the series has not yet been announced. Where: The full report can be seen on the WikiLeaks website. Why: WikiLeaks states that its source came to them because he or she “wishes to initiate a public debate about the security, creation, use, proliferation and democratic control of cyberweapons” after the CIA “lost control of the majority of its hacking arsenal including malware, viruses, trojans, weaponized ‘zero day’ exploits, malware remote control systems and associated documentation.”  

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

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